Section 22-A7306. CODE OF ETHICS

 

7306.1The Department has adopted a code of ethics for Certified Peer Specialists.  Each Certified Peer Specialist is required to comply with the code of ethics and shall sign a copy of the code of ethics.

 

7306.2The code of ethics includes the following principles, which are intended to guide Certified Peer Specialists in their various professional roles, relationships, and levels of responsibility.  Certified Peer Specialists shall:

 

(a) Be responsible for helping fellow mental health consumers or fellow guardians or parents meet their own needs, wants, and goals in personal recovery or recovery of their children;

 

(b) Maintain high standards of personal conduct in a manner that fosters their own personal recovery, or recovery of their family member;  

 

(c) Openly share with consumers and colleagues their personal recovery stories from mental illness or from involvement with a family member with mental illness and be able to identify and describe the supports that promote their personal recovery or the recovery of their family member;

 

(d) At all times, respect the rights and dignity of those they serve;

 

(e) Never intimidate, threaten, harass, or use undue influence, physical force or verbal abuse, or make unwarranted promises of benefits to the individuals they serve;

 

(f) Not practice, condone, facilitate or collaborate in any form of discrimination in violation of federal or District law;

 

(g) Respect the privacy and confidentiality of those they serve; 

 

(h) Advocate for the full integration of consumers into the communities of their choice and promote their inherent value to those communities;   

 

(i) Not enter into dual relationships or commitments that conflict with the interests of those they serve;

 

(j) Comply with the Department’s policies regarding the protection of consumers from abuse or neglect;

 

(k) Not abuse substances; 

 

(l) Not work at a mental health agency where they or their child, ward  or other relative is receiving mental health services; and

 

(m) Not accept gifts of any value from consumers or family members of consumers they serve.

 

 

authority

Sections 5113, 5115, 5117 and 5118 of the “Department of Behavioral Health Establishment Act of 2013”, effective December 24, 2013 (D.C. Law 20-0061; D.C. Official Code §§7-1141.06 and 7-1141.07 (2014 Supp.)).

source

Final Rulemaking published at 58 DCR 11096 (December 23, 2011); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 7002 (July 11, 2014).