Ethics

The IC&RC Peer recovery (PR) Code of Ethics outlines minimum values and principles of peer recovery practice. This Code serves as a guide for responsibility and ethical standards for IC&RC Peer Recovery professionals. IC&RC expects those currently holding the IC&RC Peer Recovery credential to adhere to these standards outlined below.

Peer Recovery professionals have a responsibility to support persons seeking/in recovery with achieving their personal recovery goals by promoting self-determination, personal responsibility, and the empowerment inherent in self-directed recovery. Peer Recovery professionals shall maintain high standards of personal conduct and conduct themselves in a manner that supports their own recovery. Peer Recovery professionals shall serve as advocates for the people they serve.

Peer Recovery professionals shall not perform services outside of the boundaries and scope of their expertise, shall be aware of the limits of their training and capabilities, and shall collaborate with other professionals to best meet the needs of the person(s) served. Peer Recovery professionals shall always preserve an objective and ethical relationship with the person (s) served. This credential does not condone, endorse, suggest, or intend that a Peer Recovery professionals shall serve independently. The Peer Recovery professional shall only work under appropriate supervision.

As a Peer Recovery professional, I will:

1. Agree to maintain a minimum of one supervision session per week (group and/or individual structure) totaling minimum 4 hours of documented supervision per month. I will at no times provide professional recovery support services without direct supervision. Supervision is defined as a person-centered, strength-based approach to supporting the Peer recovery professional with identification of professional strengths, areas of improvement, implicit/explicit bias, growth opportunities, cultural responsiveness and/or other items that will support the Peer Recovery professional providing competent and ethical services.
2. Agree to maintain the supervision requirements set forth by my agency of employment and/or reimbursement requirements for the services I am providing. This includes any specific supervision requirements set by state and/or credentialing body standards.
3. Maintain regular supervision, and ongoing personal supports, so I have a person with whom I can address challenging personal/professional issues, behaviors, or conditions that may negatively impact my own recovery and/or my ability to practice within my professional role as a Peer recovery professional. I understand that misconduct will result in disciplinary action and may result in the suspension of my credential.
4. Utilize supervision to grow my professional skills set and identify skills/behaviors that require improvement.
5. If supervision required above cannot be retained, I will contact my credentialing body to locate an available resource to meet these supervision requirements.

As a Peer Recovery professional, I will:

1. Accurately identify my qualifications, expertise, and credentials to all whom I serve and to the public.
2. Conduct myself in accordance with the IC&RC Peer Recovery Code of Ethics.
3. Ensure all services delivered, and professional conduct, is led by SAMHSA’ Guiding Principles of Recovery: Hope, Person-Driven, Many Pathways, Holistic, Peer Support, Relational, Culture, Trauma-Informed, Strengths and Responsibilities, and Respect.
4. Make public statements or comments that are true and reflect current and accurate information. Public statements will not cause negative consequences or harm to the community, views on recovery, peer profession, person(s) served, and/or organizations.
5. Ensure that substances, and behaviors, do not affect, or limit, my ability to maintain my role as a role model, and mentor, of a healthy recovery lifestyle. If my actions, behaviors, and/or choices do not reflect being a model of healthy recovery, I will notify my supervisor immediately.
6. Recognize personal issues, behaviors, or conditions that may impact my performance as a Peer Recovery professional and report any unethical behaviors to my supervisor and my credentialing body.
7. Respect and acknowledge the professional efforts and contributions of others and not declare or imply credit as my own. If involved in research, I shall give credit to those who contribute to the research.
8. Maintain required documentation for all client records as required by the agency through which I’m employed or the Federal requirements making certain that records are documented honestly and stored securely. Agency disposal of records policies shall be adhered to. 
9. Protect the privacy and confidentiality of persons served in adherence with Federal Confidentiality, HIPAA laws, local jurisdiction and state laws and regulations. This includes electronic privacy standards (social media, texting, telephonic, video conferencing etc.). In instances where confidentiality laws do not apply, I will ensure that the person(s) served is informed when information is shared outside of my organization, confirm what information is acceptable to share, and consent has been provided.
10. Use client contact information in accordance with agency policy and applicable laws.
11. Not create my own private clinical practice. 
12. Provide a current copy of the IC&RC Peer Recovery Code of Ethics to my employer and direct supervisor.
13. Not commit a criminal offense. I understand if I am charged for a criminal offense, my credentialing body Ethics Committee reserves the right to take immediate disciplinary action up to and including suspension of my credential. It is my duty to notify my credentialing body immediately if I am charged with a criminal offense. 
14. I will disclose directly to my credentialing body, per credentialing body ethics reporting guidelines, if a known, or perceived, ethical violation has been committed by myself or person(s) who are currently certified/licensed in my state (regardless of certification/license). 

As a Peer Recovery professional, I will:

1. Reveal any perceived conflict of interest immediately to my professional supervisor and remove myself from the peer recovery relationship upon recognition of an identified conflict of interest. Conflicts of interests include dual relationships such as providing services to other staff within your organization, personal relationships with the person(s) receiving services etc.) 
2. Disclose any existing or pre-existing professional, social, or business relationships with person(s) served. I shall determine, in consultation with my professional supervisor, whether existing or pre-existing relationships interfere with my ability to provide peer support services person(s) served. I will follow the recommendations of my supervisor and continue to remain in consultation as needed to ensure the practice of ethical standards. If I feel that consultation from my supervisor contradicts this code of ethics, I will contact my credentialing body and receive direct consultation from them. 
3. I will defer to the ethical dimensions that guide the Peer Recovery certification (Iatrogenic, fiduciary, boundary management and multi-party vulnerability) to guide all professional service/conduct decision making processes. 
4. Inform clients of costs of services as established by the agency for which I am employed and not charge person served beyond fees established. 
5. I will not sponsor, or provide any recovery pathway specific support, to any individuals I have served as a Peer Recovery professional, either currently or in the past. 

As a Peer Recovery professional, I will:

1. Clearly explain my role and responsibilities to those I serve. 
2. Terminate the relationship with a person(s) served when services appear no longer be of benefit and respect the rights of the person served to terminate services at his/her request. 
3. Request a change in my role as a Peer Recovery professional with a person being served if the person served requests a change. 
4. Not engage in sexual activities, romantic relationships, or professional and/or personal relationships with persons served in my role as a Peer Recovery professional, or members of the immediate family (as defined by the person(s) receiving services) of the person(s) served. 
5. Set clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries with all persons served. 
6. Work to identify implicit and explicit biases using supervision, continued education, consultation with other peer professionals, and other awareness opportunities to grow in opportunities to overcome potential barriers to person-centered care. 
7. Provide culturally responsive services, continue to develop an awareness of cultural humility through supervision and continued education while seeking out diversity enrichment opportunities within my community. I understand it is my responsibility to provide services that practice cultural humility and conduct myself in a manner that preserves the dignity of the culture(s) of the person(s) served and community.

If at any point I recognize/I am unable to meet any of these requirements, I will immediately cease performance as a Peer Recovery Coach and seek professional assistance. This professional assistance includes, but is not limited to, consultation with my supervisor, connection with Indiana Association of Peer Recovery Support Services (IAPRSS) for professional development/consultation and disclosure to ICAADA. I understand it is my responsibility to adhere to this code of ethics and the ethical standards that guide the peer recovery coach role. I will contact ICAADA if my organization, or other programs I work alongside, create/implement policies that force me to work outside of the ethical standards or scope of practice of a peer recovery coach.

The following Rules of Conduct set forth the minimum standards of conduct which all certified professionals are expected to honor. Failure to comply may result in discipline by the MABPCB.

Rule 1.1 — Once certified, a certified professional shall not be convicted for any misdemeanor or felony relating to the individual's ability to provide substance abuse and other behavioral health services as determined by MABPCB.

Rule 1.2 — A certified professional shall not be convicted of any crime that involves the use of any controlled or psychoactive substance.

Rule 2.1 — A certified professional shall, under no circumstances, engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with clients/peers, whether such contact is consensual or forced.

Rule 2.2 — A certified professional shall not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with clients' relatives or other individuals with whom clients/peers maintain a close personal relationship when there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm.

Rule 2.3 — A certified professional shall not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with former clients because of the potential harm to the client/peer.

Rule 2.4 — A certified professional shall not provide clinical services to individuals with whom they have had a prior sexual relationship.

Rule 3.1 — A certified professional shall not present or cause to be presented a false or fraudulent claim, prepare false accounts, present false benefit applications, or seek to have an employee commit fraud.

Rule 3.2 — An individual shall not use misrepresentation in the procurement of certification or recertification.

Rule 3.3 — An individual shall not use a title, credential, or license which states or implies a qualification that does not exist.

Rule 3.4 — A certified professional shall not provide service under a false name or a name other than the name under which certification is held.

Rule 3.5 — A certified professional shall not sign or issue a document that the professional knows or should have known to contain a false or misleading statement.

Rule 3.6 — A certified professional shall not produce, publish, create, or partake in the creation of any false, fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading advertisement.

Rule 3.7 — A certified professional who participates in writing, editing, or publication of professional papers must acknowledge and document any materials, techniques, or people used.

Rule 4.1 — A certified professional shall not develop, implement, or maintain exploitative relationships with clients/peers and/or family members.

Rule 4.2 — A certified professional shall not misappropriate property from clients/peers and/or family members.

Rule 4.3 — A certified professional shall not enter into a relationship with a client involving financial gain from promotion or sale of unrelated services or goods.

Rule 4.4 — A certified professional shall not promote to a client/peer for personal gain any treatment, procedure, product, or service.

Rule 4.5 — A certified professional shall not ask for nor accept gifts or favors from clients/peers and/or family members.

Rule 4.6 — A certified professional shall not offer, give, or receive commissions, rebates, or any other forms of remuneration for a client/peer referral.

Rule 4.7 — A certified professional shall not accept fees or gratuities for professional work from a person entitled to such services through their institution/agency.

Rule 5.1 — A certified professional shall not participate in discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, socio-economic status, political belief, psychiatric or psychological impairment, or physical disability.

Rule 5.2 — A certified professional who fails to seek therapy for any condition that interferes with their professional functioning shall be in violation of this rule.

Rule 5.3 — A certified professional shall meet and comply with all terms, conditions, or limitations of a certification or license.

Rule 5.4 — A certified professional shall not engage in conduct that does not meet the generally accepted standards of practice.

Rule 5.5 — A certified professional shall not perform services outside of their area of training, expertise, competence, or scope of practice.

Rule 5.6 — A certified professional shall not reveal confidential information obtained as the result of a professional relationship without prior written consent.

Rule 5.7 — The certified professional shall not permit publication of photographs or disclosure of client names without securing all requisite releases.

Rule 5.8 — The certified professional shall not discontinue professional services to a client nor abandon the client without facilitating appropriate closure.

Rule 5.9 — A certified professional shall not fail to obtain appropriate consultation or make an appropriate referral when the client's problem is beyond their area of expertise.

Rule 6.1 — A certified professional shall not administer to himself or herself any psychoactive substance to the extent that it impairs the ability to safely provide services.

Rule 6.2 — All certified professionals are mandated child abuse reporters.

Rule 7.1 — A certified professional shall not falsify, amend, or knowingly make incorrect entries or fail to make timely essential entries into the client record.

Rule 8.1 — A certified professional shall not refer a client to a person that he/she knows or should have known is not qualified by training, experience, certification, or license.

Rule 9.1 — A certified professional whose certification or license has been suspended, revoked, or placed on probation by any certification authority shall promptly alert the Board.

Rule 10.1 — A certified professional shall cooperate in any investigation conducted pursuant to this Code of Ethical Conduct and shall not interfere with an investigation or disciplinary proceeding.

Rule 10.2 — A certified professional shall not make false statements to MABPCB, shall promptly alert colleagues to potentially unethical behavior, and shall report violations to appropriate authorities.

Rule 10.3 — A certified professional shall report any uncorrected violation of the Code within 90 days of alleged violation.

Rule 10.4 — A certified professional with firsthand knowledge shall cooperate with MABPCB investigation or disciplinary proceedings.

Rule 10.5 — A certified professional shall not file a complaint or provide information which he/she knows is false or misleading.

Rule 10.6 — In submitting information to MABPCB, a certified professional shall comply with requirements pertaining to disclosure of client information.