RBT Ethics Code from Jigsaw Trust on Vimeo.
In Module 2, we learned about the BACB and the roles of BCBAs and RBTs.? Let?s recap what we learned.
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board seeks to protect consumers of behavior analysis services by systematically establishing, promoting, and disseminating professional standards. It seeks to protect consumers from individuals who are not qualified to provide ABA services by setting training and competency standards.? The BACB certifies professionals who meet their criteria as Board Certified Behaviour Analysts (BCBA) or Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBA).
ABA interventions are often delivered using a tiered service-delivery model.? Within a tiered service-delivery models, ABA services are generally overseen by a master?s (BCBAs) or PhD (BCBA-Ds) level Board Certified Behavior Analysts.? The programme may receive mid-level oversight by a bachelors level (BCaBAs) practitioner, and are implemented directly by Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT).
An RBT is responsible for ensuring that they maintain their credential by meeting BACB requirements. An RBT must ensure that they have at least two face-to-face supervision meetings each month. At least one of these should involve the Supervisor observing the RBT delivering interventions.? An RBT is obliged to obtain supervision for 5% of the hours that they work.
RBTs are obliged to act in an ethical manner. The RBT ethics code is a tool that enables this. As an RBT, you are obliged to follow this code.
The code outlines 4 core principles. You will see that these are similar to the ethical principles we discussed in earlier lessons. These four core principles are:
- The RBT benefits others
- The RBT treats others with dignity, compassion and respect
- The RBT behaves with integrity
- The RBT ensures their own competence
These principles are reflected throughout the code. If the rationale for a feature of the code is not immediately obvious to you, think back to these four principles.
The code is divided into a number of sections. These relate to your general responsibilities, your responsibilities to your client and your responsibilities to the BACB.
Section 1 addresses the General Responsibilities of the RBT. Many of these responsibilities relate to the principles of behaving with integrity and ensuring your own competence.
RBTs are reminded to:
- Be truthful and honest (1.01)
- To never make false, misleading or exaggerated statements about their qualifications or services (1.05)
- To follow through on their obligations. (1.02)
- To follow the law and the requirements of your professional community (1.01)
- To never harass or discriminate and to behaviour in an equitable and inclusive manner (1.08)
- To be culturally responsive and actively evaluate their own biases (1.07)
- To be aware that their biases may impact on their ability to provide services (1.09)
Some of the responsibilities relate to an RBT?s relationship with their supervisor. RBTs are reminded that:
- They should only provide services under the supervision of an appropriately qualified BCBA (1.03)
- They should only provide services after their supervisor confirms their competence (1.06)
- Their supervisor should never be an employee (1.04)
- They should not have multiple relationships, including romantic or sexual relationships, with a supervisor as it may result in conflicts of interest and risk of harm to the client (1.10; 1.12)
- They should work with their supervisor to ensure that they are culturally responsive in their practice (1.07)
In some cases, similar obligations apply to other stakeholders. An RBT should avoid
- Multiple relationships with coworkers, clients or other stakeholders (1.10)
- Giving or receiving gifts with a monetary value of more than $10 US dollar (1.11)
Section 2 addresses the RBT?s responsibilities to their clients. Many relation to the principles of benefiting others and treating others with dignity, compassion and respect. RBTs are reminded of their obligation to
- Do no harm (2.01)
- Work in the best interests of their clients (2.01)
- Act within their competence (2.04)
- Act to protect clients when they are aware of potential violation of a client?s human or legal rights (2.07)
- Follow mandated reporting requirements (2.01; 2.07)
Ensuring one?s own competence is also a responsibility for RBTs ? one that is necessary to ensure ethic interventions for their clients. RBTs are reminded that:
- An RBT should not use an unfamiliar intervention or provide services to an unfamiliar population unless they receive proper training (2.04)
- An RBT should not use restrictive (including punishment based) procedures unless documented in a behaviour change plan after their supervisor has verified their competence (2.05)
- An RBT should inform their supervisor about any questions or concerns clients, caregivers or coworkers have about their services (2.06)
- An RBT should conduct themselves professionally and take action to improve their performance following feedback from their supervisor (2.03)
- An RBT should follow directions from their supervisors. This involves accurately implementing interventions and accurately completing documentation (2.02).
Some of the responsibilities refer to the importance of ensuring the privacy of a client?s data:
- RBTs protect the confidentiality and privacy of their clients and other stakeholders (2.08)
- RBTs do not share identifying information such as photos, videos or written information on social media or other websites (2.09)
- RBTs only discuss confidential client information under the direction of their supervisor unless allowed by law for a valid reason (e.g., protecting the client or others from harm; 2.10).
- RBTs only share necessary client information in their job-related communications (2.10)
The final section of the code is Section 3. This section addresses the RBT?s responsibilities to the BACB and BACB-Required Supervisor. It reminds RBTs that they must:
- Comply with the requirements of the BACB and the supervisor with regard to supervision, documentation of supervision and audits (3.01)
- Communicate accurately and honestly with the BACB and their supervisor (3.02)
- Correct inaccurate information if they become aware of it (3.02)
- Never cheat or help somebody else cheat on assessments or exams (3.03)
- Meet self-reporting requirements to the BACB and their employers if anything (e.g. legal charges or a health status change) happens that would impact their ability to effectively carry out their behaviour technician services or comply with BACB requirements (3.04)
- Respect the intellectual property of the RBT and other relevant organisations ? including BACB titles and exam content (3.05)
- Ensure that their BACB account information is up to date (3.06)
- Report any changes in their RBT certification to their supervisor and comply with applicable BACB requirements related to practice, billing, and use of the RBT title (3.06)
After you become an RBT, we highly recommend you return to the ethics code on a regular basis, as a set of guiding principles in your daily practice. Gaining RBT certification is not a one-off event. It is an ongoing process. Remember, you ? not your employer, not your supervisor or anyone else ? remain responsible for your own ethical conduct. You must ensure that you meet your responsibility to your clients, your supervisor, the BACB, the law and society.
Conclusion
The BACB exists to ensure that recipients of ABA services are provided with effective, ethical services. The standards its produces are minimal standards. They are also general standards, that is, they are designed to be applicable to all client populations.
Remember, the RBT ethics code obliges you to be culturally responsive and to ensure that you protect your clients? human rights. This is especially important when you are working with people from vulnerable groups such as those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We hope that the models, movements and rights we have discussed in this module, will help you to apply the ethics code in your practice.