Make an Ethical Referral

UNIT 2 (COVER SHEET 3) MAKING AN ETHICAL REFERRAL 2. 1 kind of often, a exponents role is to assess and refer leaf nodes on to more appropriate help. round metres a leaf node motivations specialist counselling or a different approach and it is up to the pleader to make this transition as smooth as possible for the customer and to manage the run as sensitively as possible. The counsellor needs to take responsibility for making all arrangements only when the client should alike be empowered. SOURCES FOR REFERRALIts good practice for a counsellor to keep an up to employment file of local and national agencies. A network of personal links is also central as it can help to instil a more human/caring element within a potentially anxiety provoking situation. PROCEDURE The procedure for referrals differs from operation to agency but possible slipway of managing this be * Contact the agency concerned and find out or so referral and appointment procedures. Be illuminate in yo ur own mind, possibly after conferring with the help-seeker, what information you forget pass to the agency in both discussion that arises during a telephone call. Contact the agency by telephone whilst the help-seeker is with you so that you can travel by over to him to make the appointment after you make up made the initial enquiry. * Write a referral garner to the agency. You could s contain a copy to the client so that he knows the letter has been sent to the agency. You might cope drafting the referral letter with the client so that he/she agrees the content Whatever the execute of referral it is a time of contemplation and reflection for all involved.Confidentiality, spring issues, supervision and adherence to laws/codes of practice need to be taken into account. 2. 3 When you suggest referral the help-seeker needs to understand that this is not a rejection. Many help-seekers have been passed from pillar to stigmatize and despair of genuine help being available, so t hey may feel cynical and/or rejected. Its also possible that, having shown considerable courage to get this far, they feel daunted by approaching psyche else and starting all over again.It is important to explain the reason why the referral is necessary and assure the client that their personal information pull up stakes be help in confidence. The client also needs to be assured that the referral agency are the best placed to further their progress and ultimately that the referral is valid and necessary. 2. 4 When you engage with a client for a number of sessions you have a choice between an fast (date/time defined) ending and a phased ending. A phased ending can take different forms * A be after weaning off (longer intervals between sessions) * An open door policy Endings with a follow up some weeks/months later Difficulties that clients may have with endings are * Client is emotionally upset * Client is reluctant to end the sessions * If the ending is abrupt or unexpected * Cl ient breaks the contract and sessions are ended Within the endings process you need to draw upon what you know about his/her attitude and experience of endings. For many people its a relatively small issue if they are fairly self-supporting and motivated they probably move on with little regret.For others its a much bigger event. A Counsellor needs to ensure to careen that the end is drawing close and to give an opportunity for the client to comment on how he feels about the end. The longer the contact youve had, the more time you want to allow for this discussion and the earlier it needs to happen. Although you need to make the time limit clear in the initial contract, both counsellor and client are sure to have feelings about the ending of even short-term work.The extent of feelings probably relate to the transport of the work and the investment in it by each party. Preparation for the ending should include * Recognition of where the client is now (positive and negative) * A de cision about the reason for the ending (planned or immediate) * Goodbyes 2. 5 Supervision is an important part of the referral process and should be used to facilitate and explore how the process should be managed, how the client lead react and how the counsellor will feel about the ending.I think as a counsellor you should have a prior understanding of how you feel the client will/is reacting to the ending of the helping relationship and the supervisory program can draw upon his/her experience as to how the process should be best managed. I think as a counsellor, particularly when the ending has been abrupt or premature may experience feelings of inadequacy or failure for not helping the client to overcome their presenting issues. I think a supervisor will be able to empathise and advise on the situation and how to frame it within your mind.The supervisor will advise how to end the relationship in a systematic way as positive as possible. 2. 6 Reasons for referral may be Because t he counsellor * Has a personality clash with the client * Is out of their attainment in terms of professional limits * Lacks experience to help the client further * There are boundary issues with knowing the client/friends of client on a personal basis * The clients issue is triggering issues within the counsellor * There is a clash of beliefs/values/culture that cannot be overlooked in terms of empathy Because the agency Has time limits/limited sessions * Has a policy complication relating to clients issues * Does not deal with certain areas of counselling Because the client * Needs/wants a different type of counsellor or other type of care * Has issues close to availability/accessibility * Needs/wants a different package of care 2. 7 The BACP guidance relating to honest referrals are that * All referrals should be discussed with the client in advance and the clients consent obtained both to making the referral and also to disclosing information to accompany the referral.The ref erral should derive the client, all confidential information should be protected during referral and the service/counsellor must be capable. * Prior to accepting a referral a practitioner should ensure that the referral is appropriate, will benefit the client and that the client is consenting. If the referrer is ultimately responsible for the client then they can receive update reports providing the client is consenting