Handbook : Unit informationEdith Cowan University

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Psychology and Social Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

• Unit Title

  Professional Issues in Psychology

• Unit Code

  PSY5196

• Year

  2015

• Enrolment Period

  1

• Version

  1

• Credit Points

  20

• Full Year Unit

  N

• Mode of Delivery

  On Campus
  

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Description

The aim of this unit is to prepare students in the legal, professional and ethical principles that govern the practice of psychologists. The unit will also cover professional knowledge pertaining to the practice of psychology, including risk management, the administration of mental health services, privacy and confidentiality issues, professional conduct and disciplinary proceedings. A further aim of this unit is to assist students to acquire the knowledge and skills they require to practise as psychologists.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Analyse the mental health system and legislation as they pertain to psychological practice.
2. Demonstrate competence in conducting assessment interviews, the microskills of counselling and report writing.
3. Demonstrate competence in working with people in crisis and the management of self harm and violence.
4. Determine the legal and ethical principles that govern the practice of psychologists, including practice in different settings and with different populations and in conducting research.
5. Explain the importance of competent administration, time management and financial matters as they pertain to psychological practice.
6. Verify the legal and ethical principles that govern psychological practice in relation to professional misconduct, investigations, disciplinary proceedings and remedies and psychologists in the court setting.

Unit Content

1. Legal and ethical content to include: Legislation and other norm systems that govern the activities of psychologists, including privacy, confidentiality and record keeping. Professional misconduct, investigations, disciplinary proceedings and psychologists in the court setting. Law and ethics as they apply to cross-cultural work, working with community groups, inter and intra professional relationships, working with specific populations and in conducting research. Social responsibility and the management of risk. The mental health system and legislation.
2. Professional and practice skills content including: Assessment interviews, micro-counselling skills and report writing. Working with people in crises and the management of self-harm and violence. Working with Indigenous people. Individual principles and values. Professional psychology networks, relationships and contacts. Administration, time management and financial matters in psychological practice.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, tutorials and seminars.

Assessment

GS4 GRADING SCHEMA 4 Used for undifferentiated pass/fail units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Text References

• ^ Allan, A. (2011). An international perspective of law and ethics in psychology (2nd ed.). Somerset West, South Africa: Inter-ed.
• Allan, A., & Love, A.W. (Eds.). (2010). Reflections from the creators of the APS Code of Ethics. Chichester, UK: John Wiley and Sons.
• Barskey, A. E. (2007). Conflict resolution for the helping professions (2nd ed). Belmont, CA: Thomson.
• Singer, P. (2011). Practical ethics (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
• McGlade, H. (2012). Our greatest challenge: Aboriginal children and human rights. Canberra: Australian Studies Press.
• Talbot, M. (2012). Bioethics: An introduction. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
• Bersoff, D. N. (Ed.). (2002). Ethical conflicts in psychology (3rd ed.). Washington DC: American Psychological Association.
• Koocher, G. P., & Keith-Spiegel, P. (2008). Ethics in psychology and the mental health professions: Standards and cases (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

Journal References

• Allan, A. (2011). The development of a code for Australian psychologists. Ethics and behaviour, 21 (6), 435-451.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2011.622176
• Allan, A. (2012). Ethics in correctional and forensic psychology: Getting the balance right. Australian Psychologist. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-9544.2012.00079.x

Website References

• American Psychological Association (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of ethics. Available: http://www.apa.org/ethics/code.html.

^ Mandatory reference

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