4757-5-03 Standards of ethical practice and professional conduct: multiple relationships.

 

 

 

4757-5-03                    Standards   of   ethical   practice   and   professional   conduct: multiple relationships.

 

 

 

(A)    Counselors, social workers, or marriage and family therapists shall avoid multiple relationships and conflicts of interest with any client/consumer-of-services, ex-clients, family members of clients or ex-clients, or other persons encountered in professional or non-professional setting, which are not in the best interest of the client and might impair professional judgment or which increases the risk of client/consumer-of-services exploitation.

 

(1)      When a multiple relationship is first recognized or cannot be avoided, counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists shall take the following appropriate professional precautions:

 

(a)     All potential multiple relationship and/or conflicts of interest shall be discussed with the client as soon as possible after being first recognized and shall continue only with both parties agreement;

 

(b)   All multiple relationships and/or conflicts of interest shall be noted in the client record with reasoning as to why it is in the best interest of the client and/or not harmful;

 

(c)   Such notation shall be continually reassessed and justified in the record;

 

(d)    Issues such as informed consent, consultation, and supervision shall be considered to ensure that judgment is not impaired and that no exploitation occurs.

 

(2)   A client of the agency is considered a client of each counselor, social worker, or marriage and family therapist employed or contracted by the agency for purposes of ethics under the multiple relationships rule of this chapter.

 

(3)     The licensed professional shall not undertake or continue a professional relationship with a client/consumer-of-services when the objectivity or competency of the counselor, social worker, or marriage and family therapist is, or could reasonably be expected to be, impaired or where the relationship with the client/consumer-of-services is exploitative.

 

(4)    Examples of multiple relationships that shall be avoided include but are not limited to those listed below.

 

(a)   Familial relationships;

 

 

 

 

(b)   Social relationships;

(c)   Emotional relationships;

(d)  Financial relationships;

(e)   Supervisory relationships;

(f)  Political relationships;

(g)   Administrative relationships; and/or

(h)   Legal relationships.

(i) Social media/personal virtual relationships

(5)   The list of relationships in paragraph (A)(4) of this rule as well as others require careful consideration to insure that impaired judgment or exploitation is not involved and that the best interest of the client is served at all times.

(B)   Counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists shall avoid potentially harmful effects of non-client contacts on their practice that would reasonably impair the professional's objectivity or otherwise interfere with the professional's effectiveness as a counselor, social worker, or marriage and family therapist or would reasonably harm or exploit the other party. The standard to be used shall be what an ordinary, reasonable professional with similar education and training would have considered in similar circumstances.

(C)   When counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists provide services to two or more people who have a relationship with each other (for example couples, family members), licensees shall clarify with all parties which individuals shall be considered clients and the nature of the licensee's professional obligations to the various individuals who are receiving services. Licensees, who anticipate a conflict of interest among the individuals receiving services or who anticipate having to perform in potentially conflicting roles (for example, a licensee who is asked or ordered to testify in a child custody dispute or divorce proceeding involving clients), shall clarify their role with the parties involved and take appropriate action to minimize any conflict of interest. If a licensee is asked to testify in a child custody case, they should review rule 4757-6-01 of the Administrative Code prior to any court appearance for guidance as to their role in these circumstances.

Effective:                                                             07/01/2016

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates:                         12/17/2017

CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY

Certification

05/24/2016

Date

Promulgated Under:                           119.03

Statutory Authority:                           4757.11

Rule Amplifies:                                  4757.11

Prior Effective Dates:                         9/19/85 (Emer.), 12/19/85, 5/22/86, 6/11/95 (Emer.),

7/3/97, 8/2/01, 9/20/02, 4/10/04, 1/1/06, 11-8-07,

10-18-09; 4-1-11