Scenario
An agency where you work has been in a slump with admissions lately. The owner has been visibly upset with all the discharges and few admissions. In the last team meeting, she mentions the need for “creative billing” and details a plan to do so. Part of the plan includes getting Medicaid numbers from people in the community and billing for services even though they are not receiving services. Additionally, you have been provided a transgender client to work with because another person handling the case was fired. You do not have the experience or training to work with the LGBTQ population. Nevertheless, you are informed that you need to make sure you get the client admitted and provide any needed counsel. Currently, you already serve 8 clients, you are already working an overwhelming number of hours, and you are in school online full-time. Right now you are experiencing burnout and unhappy with the agency. Quitting is not an option because this job helps to pay bills while you are in school and you want to graduate as soon as possible to move forward in life. In addition to what you have to do to respond to the issues above, you KNOW a self-care plan is necessary in order for your personhood to survive. Based upon the scenario, respond to the questions and or statement below in 5 – 8 pages. 1. What makes the behavior by the owner an ethical issue? How would you respond to the request to initiate “creative billing” practices? 2. Explain how you would handle the issue of LGBTQ competency and the implications of neglecting to do so. 3. What are the ethical implications of adhering to your supervisor’s recommendation to add a new client to your heavy caseload coupled with your lack of training and experience with the LGBTQ population? 4. What type of training will you research and/or request to work with the new client? 5. What can you do immediately regarding self-care? 6. Create a 90 day self-care plan and attach it as an appendix in your word document (Note: the self-care plan is NOT included as part of the total 5 – 8 page count). In your 5 – 8 page assignment, share the value of your self-care plan while assigned to the agency and attending school full-time 7. Write about the role of education in human services especially to students from (1) the employer, and (2) the client. 8. In your conclusion, add 2 – 3 sentences about what you learned in this scenario based assignment that you plan to incorporate to minimize the risk of unethical behavior in your agency as the supervisor and/or owner.
