July 25, 2012

Grow
Psychological
Grow
Psychological
A collaborative network of
Services
A
collaborative
network of
Services
learning support
learning support

Created by (alpha order): Jaime Kerr, Hanna Kubas, Caroline Lapierre,

& Alison Lessard

Who We Are
Grow Psychological Services is:
A non-profit, community-focused provider of
academic, psychological and behavioral
assessment services for children, adolescents,
and their families.
Located in Calgary serving central and
southern Alberta.
Composed of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary
team of psychologists and pediatricians.

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

Our Focus
Provide community-based assessment for
struggling students
Accommodate for cultural, language, and
economic differences
Support children and their families by working to
develop appropriate interventions
Provide classroom recommendations that can be
included into Individual Program Plans
Collaborate with school-based teams if requested

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

Our Additional Services

ESL and Positive Behavior Support service
for families
Speech and Language and Occupational
Therapy referrals
Pediatric referrals
Parenting workshops
ESL support and translation services

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

Mission
Working together to support the
learning and development of children
and their families

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

Our Values
Respecting cultural, social and economic diversity
Demonstrating accountability to our clients, our
employees and all stakeholders
Treating people with compassion and fairness
Collaborating with families, health care providers,
educators, and other outside agencies in provision of
services and decision-making process
Responsibility as psychologists to uphold the highest
ethical standards of our profession

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

Referrals for Services

Pediatricians or General Physicians
School teams
Child and Family Services

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

Respect for the Dignity of

Persons
We believe that all human beings have an innate worth
that is independent of any preference or personal
characteristic, condition or status.
We treat all employees, clients and colleagues with the
highest level of respect and value their autonomy.
Reflected in our policies and practices of:
Informed Consent
Confidentiality
Privacy
Equal Opportunity Employer (hiring policy)

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

Informed Consent
Ongoing and collaborative process
Provide detailed and sufficient information
Ensure that our clients understand and agree,
including minors
Seek parental/guardian consent with minors
Respect wishes to involve others

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

Confidentiality
Cornerstone of the therapeutic relationship
Confidential information is safeguarded
Ensure that clients understand limits of
confidentiality before services begin
Not disclosed without the clients consent
unless required by law or in the event of
possible physical harm or death

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

10

Privacy
Protect rights of our clients and employees
to personal privacy
Record only information that is necessary
to provide services
Secure record management

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

11

Hiring Policy
Equal opportunity employer - do not
discriminate on basis of characteristics such
as culture, nationality, ethnicity, gender, etc.
Harassment free workplace
Fair compensation for our talented and
competent employees
Employee development - assist with ethical
understanding and professional growth
Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

12

Vulnerable Persons
Our greatest responsibility is to those persons
who are most vulnerable in our society
Our vulnerable clients - children, immigrant
families, and families with lower socioeconomic status.
We ensure:
Informed consent is understood
Translated services when required
Flexible payment options
Flexible service delivery
Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

13

Responsible Caring
Enhance the health, safety and wellbeing of all
persons
Accountability for our actions
Maximize benefit, minimize harm
Reflected in our policies and practices of:
Professional Competence
Self Awareness
Self Care
Professional Collaboration
Complaint Process

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

14

Professional Competence
Regular professional training to ensure up-todate knowledge in our employees
Continuing education workshops
Employees only engage in services they are
most competent to perform
Referral services to multidisciplinary team

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

15

Self Awareness
Regular agency wide self-reflection
encouraged
Awareness of how attitudes, values,
experiences and biases influence our actions
and services
Cultural awareness training - upon hire and
throughout employment

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

16

Self Care
Our employees must care for themselves in
order to provide the highest quality of care to
others
Infused into our agency culture:
Flex days
Health spending account - fitness/relaxation
Psychological services for employees

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

17

Professional Collaboration
We have an extensive collaborative network in
the community to maximize benefit to clients
Coordinate effective services
Referral services
Continual monitoring and evaluation

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

18

Complaint Process
Complaints against employees or the agency
services are treated very seriously
Stringent process followed similar to the
College of Alberta Psychologists - Chief
Complaints Advisor
Focus on collaborative problem solving and
diligence in complain resolution/investigation
Ethical decision-making model employed for all
ethical dilemmas faced at the agency

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

19

Integrity in Relationships
Value integrity in our relationships with
employees, clients, families, colleagues and
community
Value honesty, accuracy, straightforwardness
and awareness of biases in relationships
Reflected in our policies and practices of:
Objectivity
Conflict of Interest
Reliance on the Discipline
Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

20

Objectivity
Accurately and honestly portray the agency,
employees and services provided
Understand how our backgrounds influence
our services

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

21

Conflict of Interest
Avoid exploiting any relationship we enter
into to further personal or business interests
at the expense of the clients, employees or
members of the community
Avoidance of intimate relationships
Avoidance of dual relationships

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

22

Reliance on the Discipline

Agency continuously strives to familiarize itself
with rules, laws, and aspirations of the
profession
Collaboration between professionals
Ongoing professional development
Problem-solving and ethical decision making
models continually used
Weekly team meetings to discuss ethical
issues/dilemmas and work together as a team
Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

23

Responsibility to Society
Our society and the community in which we live and
work is extremely important to us.
We contribute to the general welfare of society through
many actions:
Development of Knowledge
Fee structure
Ethical Fundraising
Volunteering & Community Events
Advocacy

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

24

Development of
Knowledge
Seek to contribute to continuing education and
professional growth of our community - e.g.
monthly Grow your Neurons sessions to
bring in prominent researchers to share
knowledge
Extensive community resource center and
library
Strong referral network with local schools
Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

25

Fee Structure
Highly competent, registered professionals covered by most insurance plans
Fees based on recommended provincial rates
Financial assistance available to eligible
clients, made possible by generous donations
Payment plans
Pro-bono services

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

26

Ethical Fundraising
Dedication to strong community partnerships
and ethical fundraising
Local business partnerships
Public commitment to ethical fundraising
through financial transparency, frequent
reporting and ethical partnerships

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

27

Volunteering & Community

Development
Provide free services to those who require
them under professional supervision:
After School Learn and Play
Reading Buddies Program
Book Sale
Social Night

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

28

Advocacy
We are responsible to act as advocates in our
community, using our expert knowledge to
enhance well-being and speak out for benefit
social changes.
Dedication to raising awareness of the
challenges that they families we work with face.
Recent social media campaign through local
pro-bono advertising agency to raise awareness
of child mental illnesses.

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

29

Conclusion
Our Ethics Define Us...
We view the Canadian Code of Ethics (CPA, 2000) as our
foundation that underpins every policy, action, service
and decision we make.
A life-long pursuit of ethical conduct is infused
throughout our agency.
Our society and local community depends on us to act
ethically in exchange for the support of our profession:
we view our ability to serve our community as our
privilege.

Grow
A collaborative network of learning
Psychological
support

30