Ethics and Confidentiality in Supervision
Confidentiality in Ministry
There is a high level of expectation of confidentiality for ministers. The Presbyterian Church does not have the sanctity of a ‘confessional’ as Catholic priests do, but personal information given by parishioners may not be disclosed to others without the permission of the person concerned. Where there can be grey areas is around information that may or may not be held by the church community as a whole, such as the health status of an elderly parishioner. Ministers are encouraged to check with parishioners before sharing personal information (such as a diagnosis) with others such as a pastoral team, or on a prayer chain. Within a church there are varying levels of confidentiality from strictly private to fully open, and clarity about who can be told what is very important. The same applies to colleagues.
Where a minister has concerns for a person’s wellbeing they can ask a person for permission to share information, and in some cases (particularly where a person is suicidal) information can be discussed with another professional (e.g. a mental health case worker) even without the permission of the parishioner. However this would be very rare, and potentially damaging to the pastoral relationship.
Ministers’ Code of Ethics makes it very clear that the duty of care is to those under the minister’s care, with particular concern for any who are vulnerable.
Confidentiality in the Supervision relationship
Because supervision is outside of a community of people who share information about each other the expectations of confidentiality are far higher. The only situations in which matters discussed in supervision would be shared outside of supervision are:
a) the supervisor is able to take case material from their supervision work to their own supervisor, and
b) where the supervisor has grave concerns for the wellbeing of a supervisee they may seek permission to contact another person in the wider church or employing agency to raise concerns.
The supervisor’s duty of care is
a) primarily to the supervisee, including for their personal and professional wellbeing
b) secondly to the clients of the supervisee
c) thirdly to the profession as a whole
Although a supervisor may be paid directly by the employing agency, the supervisor is not accountable to the agency for their work, other than for any reporting as agreed in the contract.
There is a high level of expectation of confidentiality for ministers. The Presbyterian Church does not have the sanctity of a ‘confessional’ as Catholic priests do, but personal information given by parishioners may not be disclosed to others without the permission of the person concerned. Where there can be grey areas is around information that may or may not be held by the church community as a whole, such as the health status of an elderly parishioner. Ministers are encouraged to check with parishioners before sharing personal information (such as a diagnosis) with others such as a pastoral team, or on a prayer chain. Within a church there are varying levels of confidentiality from strictly private to fully open, and clarity about who can be told what is very important. The same applies to colleagues.
Where a minister has concerns for a person’s wellbeing they can ask a person for permission to share information, and in some cases (particularly where a person is suicidal) information can be discussed with another professional (e.g. a mental health case worker) even without the permission of the parishioner. However this would be very rare, and potentially damaging to the pastoral relationship.
Ministers’ Code of Ethics makes it very clear that the duty of care is to those under the minister’s care, with particular concern for any who are vulnerable.
Confidentiality in the Supervision relationship
Because supervision is outside of a community of people who share information about each other the expectations of confidentiality are far higher. The only situations in which matters discussed in supervision would be shared outside of supervision are:
a) the supervisor is able to take case material from their supervision work to their own supervisor, and
b) where the supervisor has grave concerns for the wellbeing of a supervisee they may seek permission to contact another person in the wider church or employing agency to raise concerns.
The supervisor’s duty of care is
a) primarily to the supervisee, including for their personal and professional wellbeing
b) secondly to the clients of the supervisee
c) thirdly to the profession as a whole
Although a supervisor may be paid directly by the employing agency, the supervisor is not accountable to the agency for their work, other than for any reporting as agreed in the contract.
Legal Issues in Supervision
The most likely legal issue to arise in supervision would be the situation in which a supervisee has been told, or has reason to believe, that a client is engaged in an illegal activity. This is definitely something which should be taken to supervision for discussion.
Examples from my own ministry are:
- a parishioner was claiming a benefit as a single mother long after her partner had moved in
- I suspected domestic violence in a family
- there was reason to believe that illegal drugs were being used
The supervisor’s role in questions of legality is
a) to firstly to help the supervisee ensure that they are engaging in safe and legal professional conduct, keeping themselves safe in all situations
b) to assist the supervisee to assess the legal guidelines of their organisation to ensure that they are acting within the policies they are working under
c) to ensure that the supervisee is keeping correct notes and documentation
d) to ensure that the supervisee has access to specialist help if required, e.g. in my case informing the Presbytery Clerk of a particular difficult situation, or consulting the church’s legal advisor
Only if the supervisor has very serious concerns for the wellbeing of a supervisee would the supervisor take action, with the full knowledge of the supervisee, to contact any relevant authorities.
Of particular importance in NZ is the Vulnerable Children’s Act, which has very particular protocols for all professionals to follow if there is any suspicion of children being in abusive situations. Each church has its own contextualised policies around child safety which must be followed.
The most likely legal issue to arise in supervision would be the situation in which a supervisee has been told, or has reason to believe, that a client is engaged in an illegal activity. This is definitely something which should be taken to supervision for discussion.
Examples from my own ministry are:
- a parishioner was claiming a benefit as a single mother long after her partner had moved in
- I suspected domestic violence in a family
- there was reason to believe that illegal drugs were being used
The supervisor’s role in questions of legality is
a) to firstly to help the supervisee ensure that they are engaging in safe and legal professional conduct, keeping themselves safe in all situations
b) to assist the supervisee to assess the legal guidelines of their organisation to ensure that they are acting within the policies they are working under
c) to ensure that the supervisee is keeping correct notes and documentation
d) to ensure that the supervisee has access to specialist help if required, e.g. in my case informing the Presbytery Clerk of a particular difficult situation, or consulting the church’s legal advisor
Only if the supervisor has very serious concerns for the wellbeing of a supervisee would the supervisor take action, with the full knowledge of the supervisee, to contact any relevant authorities.
Of particular importance in NZ is the Vulnerable Children’s Act, which has very particular protocols for all professionals to follow if there is any suspicion of children being in abusive situations. Each church has its own contextualised policies around child safety which must be followed.