Code of Ethics for CRSS Professionals
Introduction
A code of ethics is a set of guidelines which are designed to set out acceptable behaviors for members of a particular group, association, or profession. The CRSS code of ethics serves to:
- Protect consumers of recovery support services
- Set a professional standard
- Increase confidence in the profession
- Identify core values which underlie the work performed
- Create accountability among CRSS professionals
- Establish occupational identity and maturity
Code of Ethics for CRSS Professionals
- CRSS professionals will, when appropriate, openly share their stories of hope and recovery and will likewise be able to identify and describe the supports that promote their recovery and resilience.
- Science has shown that having hope is integral to an individual’s ability to recover. Hearing stories of recovery helps people develop hope, particularly when those stories are relevant to others’ lives and helps them to identify supports for their own recovery.
- CRSS professionals will practice safe and healthy disclosure about their own experience through general sharing focused on providing hope and direction toward recovery.
- The experience of recovery and what is helpful is different for each person. Sharing one’s recovery story can promote hope, but must not be prescriptive.
- CRSS professionals will maintain high standards of personal conduct and will also conduct self-care in a manner that fosters their own recovery.
- As a role model, a CRSS professional’s integrity and health choices influence the practices of persons served.
- CRSS professionals will fairly and accurately represent themselves and their capabilities to individuals they serve and to the community.
- The goal is to get a person to the right source of support for their current need. Damage occurs when a professional misrepresents what services they are qualified to provide.
- CRSS professionals will keep current with emerging knowledge relevant to recovery and openly share their knowledge.
- Persons served deserve to make choices based on the best information possible. Information and understanding regarding mental health recovery is ever evolving and expanding.
- CRSS professionals will not abuse substances under any circumstances.
- As a role model, a CRSS professional’s integrity and health choices influence the practices of persons served.
- CRSS professionals will provide services to meet the identified needs of the individuals they serve as indicated within their service plan. They will avoid providing services that are unnecessary or not capable of producing the desired effect.
- Persons served deserve individualized services with demonstrated effectiveness.
- CRSS professionals shall only provide service and support within work hours and locations approved by the agency.
- Persons must be afforded protection from abuse, misconduct and conflicts of interest which are more likely to occur outside the scope of professionally sa