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Dual Relationships and Technology

Module 14: Ethics, Confidentiality, and Cultural Humility · Lesson 2 of 3

11 min Back to module

Story opener

Thursday, 4:40 p.m. A participant is sitting across from you, your supervisor wants three notes before you leave, and the answer you need is not in any binder on the shelf. This lesson is the part of the job nobody handed you in orientation.

Learning objectives

  • Be able to disclose unavoidable overlap early
  • Be able to agency channels only, no exceptions

Lesson

Small communities and smartphones create constant overlap.

Overlap is often unavoidable in the neighborhoods you serve. Disclose it, document it, and plan for it with your supervisor rather than pretending it does not exist.

Use agency-approved communication channels only. Personal social media contact, personal phone numbers, and unencrypted photos of documents are common and serious errors.

Maryland guidance & authority labels

Every statement below is labeled so you know what is binding regulation, what is only proposed, what is professional guidance, and what is our house standard.

  • PRA guidance

    PRA's code of ethics centers dignity, self-determination, competence, and honesty in documentation and billing.

  • COMAR — current

    Confidentiality obligations under HIPAA and Maryland law apply to community settings — including who can see a participant's file in your car.

Common mistakes

  • Describing what you did without describing what the participant did.

    Do this instead — Record the intervention and the participant's observable response to it.

  • Treating regulation as a filing chore separate from practice.

    Do this instead — Let the required elements shape the session itself, so documentation writes itself.

Practical examples

Practical example

Instead of 'met with participant to discuss goals,' write: 'Reviewed the transportation objective; participant identified the #22 route unassisted and named one back-up plan. Verbal prompt needed once. Next session: practice the transfer at Mondawmin.'

Key takeaways

  • Disclose unavoidable overlap early
  • Agency channels only, no exceptions

Reflection prompts

  1. 1Which part of this lesson describes something you are already doing differently in practice?
  2. 2What would an auditor see in your last five notes that contradicts this standard?

Bring your answers to supervision — the case-study workspace in this module saves written notes to your account.

Knowledge check

4 questions drawn from a bank of 7 · 75% to pass · instant feedback on every answer

1. Which additional point does "Dual Relationships and Technology" emphasize?

2. A colleague does this: Treating regulation as a filing chore separate from practice. What should they do instead?

3. Which statement is a key takeaway from "Dual Relationships and Technology"?

4. A colleague does this: Describing what you did without describing what the participant did. What should they do instead?

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