Course Difficulty: Intermediate

This comprehensive course is designed for psychologists practicing in Ontario, Canada, focusing on the ethical standards and guidelines that govern their profession. It aims to provide a thorough understanding of the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists, the College of Psychologists of Ontario’s Standards of Professional Conduct, and other relevant standards and policies.

Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists, Fourth Edition

• Introduction: An overview of the code’s importance and application in psychological practice.
• Principle I: Respect for the Dignity of Persons and Peoples: Discusses the importance of respecting individual and cultural differences in psychological practice.
• Principle II: Responsible Caring: Focuses on ensuring competence and safeguarding welfare in professional interactions.
• Principle III: Integrity in Relationships: Examines the necessity of honesty, accuracy, and objectivity in psychological practice.
• Principle IV: Responsibility to Society: Highlights the psychologist’s role in contributing positively to society and respecting communal laws and policies.

College of Psychologists of Ontario: Standards of Professional Conduct, 2017

• Terminology and Definitions of Terms: Clarifies the specific terms used within the standards.
• Overview: Provides a broad understanding of the standards and their importance.
• Supervision: Outlines the responsibilities and ethical considerations in supervisory roles.
• Competence: Emphasizes the need to maintain and improve professional skills.
• Representation of Services: Addresses ethical ways to present psychological services to the public.
• Consent to Services: Discusses obtaining informed consent in various professional contexts.
• Privacy of Personal Information And Personal Health Information: Covers confidentiality and privacy laws in psychological practice.
• Records and Record Keeping: Outlines best practices for managing client records.
• Assessment and Intervention: Discusses ethical considerations in psychological assessment and interventions.
• Fees and Contract for Services: Explains ethical guidelines related to financial arrangements.
• Impairment: Addresses the issue of professional impairment and its impact.
• Professional Objectivity: Highlights the importance of maintaining objectivity in professional roles.
• Harassment, Abuse, and Sexual Relationships: Discusses ethical boundaries in professional relationships.
• Use of Technology In The Provision of Psychological Services: Explores the ethical implications of using technology in psychological practice.

Providing Psychological Services In The Context of Child Custody Disputes and Child Protection Proceedings

This section addresses the specific ethical considerations and challenges in child custody and child protection contexts.

Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing

• Overview: An introduction to the standards governing psychological and educational testing.
• Fairness in Testing: Examines the principles of fairness in test development and administration.
• Standards for Test Administration, Scoring, Reporting, and Interpretation: Discusses the ethical guidelines for handling all aspects of psychological testing.
• The Rights and Responsibilities of Test Users: Explores the ethical obligations of psychologists administering tests.
• Psychological Testing and Assessment: Discusses ethical considerations in various testing scenarios.
• Workplace Testing and Credentialing: Addresses the specific standards for testing in workplace and credentialing contexts.

Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans

• Overview: Provides an overview of ethical guidelines for human research.
• The Consent Process: Discusses the ethical aspects of obtaining informed consent in research.
• Fairness and Equity in Research Participation: Addresses ethical considerations in participant selection.
• Privacy and Confidentiality: Covers the importance of maintaining confidentiality in research settings.
• Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples of Canada: Explores the specific ethical considerations in research involving Indigenous populations.
• Human Genetic Research: Discusses the unique ethical issues in genetic research.

When Laws and Ethics Collide

• Introduction: Introduces the complexity of situations where legal requirements and ethical principles may conflict.
• Navigating Ethical Dilemmas: Provides strategies for identifying and resolving ethical dilemmas.
• Taking Steps to Avoid Conflicts: Offers practical approaches to prevent conflicts between laws and ethics.
• Asking the Question: “What Does the Law Require?” Guides professionals in understanding and prioritizing legal requirements in their practice.

This course is essential for psychologists in Ontario to ensure that they are well-versed in the ethical standards that underpin their professional responsibilities and conduct. It offers a detailed roadmap for navigating the ethical landscape of psychological practice, ensuring adherence to the highest standards of professionalism.

This course comprehensively overviews key legislative acts impacting psychologists in Ontario, Canada. It is tailored to offer an in-depth understanding of the legal and ethical framework psychologists operate within. The course aims to equip psychologists with the knowledge necessary to practice within their profession’s legal boundaries and ethical standards by exploring various provincial and federal acts.

Course Objectives:

• To provide a foundational understanding of critical legislative acts relevant to psychology practice in Ontario.
• To explore the ethical and legal implications of these acts for psychologists.
• To enhance the ability of psychologists to navigate the legal landscape impacting their professional practice.

Target Audience:

This course is designed for practicing psychologists, psychology students, and other mental health professionals in Ontario seeking to deepen their understanding of their practice’s legal and ethical aspects.

Key Topics:

• Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017:

  • Summary: Focuses on the rights and protection of children and youth in Ontario.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Discusses the role of psychologists in child welfare and family services, including reporting duties and confidentiality concerns.

• Children’s Law Reform Act:

  • Summary: Addresses legal matters concerning children, including custody and access.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Highlights the psychologist’s role in family law cases, such as custody assessments and expert testimony.

• Education Act of Ontario, 1990:

  • Summary: Governs the province’s public education system.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Examines the involvement of psychologists in educational settings, including special education assessments and interventions.

• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), 1990:

  • Summary: Pertains to data privacy and public access to information.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Details how psychologists must handle client records and confidentiality in public institutions.

• Health Care Consent Act, 1996:

  • Summary: Outlines the requirements for obtaining consent for health care treatments.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Discusses informed consent in psychological practice, including capacity assessments.

• The Insurance Act, 1990:

  • Summary: Regulates insurance practices in Ontario.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Covers the role of psychologists in the insurance system, including assessments for insurance claims.

• The Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007:

  • Summary: Governs long-term care facilities.
  • Impact on Psychologists: The psychologist’s role in long-term care focuses on ethical considerations and residents’ rights.

• Mental Health Act, 1990:

  • Summary: Addresses the treatment and rights of individuals with mental health issues.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Reviews legal aspects of involuntary admissions, treatment, and patients’ rights.

• Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 1990:

  • Summary: Similar to FIPPA but applies to municipal institutions.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Emphasizes the handling of personal information in municipal settings.

• The Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) of 2004:

  • Summary: Provides guidelines for managing personal health information.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Discusses confidentiality and privacy in managing client health records.

• The Psychology Act, 1991:

  • Summary: Establishes the regulatory framework for the practice of psychology in Ontario.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Focuses on professional responsibilities, licensing, and disciplinary processes.

• The Public Hospitals Act, 1990:

  • Summary: Regulates public hospitals in Ontario.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Explores the role and obligations of psychologists working in hospital settings.

• The Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA), 1991:

  • Summary: Provides a framework for regulated health professions in Ontario.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Discusses scope of practice, interprofessional collaboration, and regulatory bodies.

• Retirement Homes Act, 2010:

  • Summary: Governs retirement homes in Ontario.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Addresses the provision of psychological services in retirement home settings.

• Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008:

  • Summary: Focuses on services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Reviews psychological assessment and support for this population.

• Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997:

  • Summary: Pertains to workplace injuries and insurance.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Details involvement in assessment and treatment of work-related injuries.

• Substitute Decisions Act, 1992:

  • Summary: Establishes guidelines for appointing decision-makers for individuals who cannot manage their property and personal care.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Requires psychologists to assess mental capacity and adhere to ethical and legal standards in capacity evaluations.

• Federal Act: Corrections & Conditional Release Act, 1992:

  • Summary: Governs the correctional system and conditional release of inmates.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Discusses the role in assessment, rehabilitation, and release of offenders.

• Federal Act: Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA):

  • Summary: Regulates the handling of personal information in the private sector.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Explores issues related to electronic storage and transfer of client information.

• Federal Act: Youth Criminal Justice Act, 2002:

  • Summary: It deals with the justice system for young offenders.
  • Impact on Psychologists: Focuses on assessment, treatment, and ethical issues in dealing with youth offenders.

• When Laws and Ethics Collide:

  • Objective: To provide an understanding of situations where legal requirements and ethical considerations in psychological practice may conflict.
  • Overview: Brief overview of the nature of ethical dilemmas faced by psychologists, emphasizing the complexity of scenarios where legal obligations and ethical principles do not align.
  • Navigating Ethical Dilemmas.
  • Taking Steps to Avoid Conflicts.
  • Asking the Question: “What Does the Law Require?”