RES-BACB-SUPERVISION-COMMON-ISSUES — BACB Guidance: Common Supervision Issues and Best Practices
What does RES-BACB-SUPERVISION-COMMON-ISSUES say?
Supervision-related violations are among the most frequently cited in BACB enforcement. Common issues and best practices: (1) Inadequate supervision frequency — BCBAs must provide supervision at the frequency, duration, and intensity required by their certification board, employers, and funders; shortcuts compromise client outcomes. (2) Lack of direct observation — reviewing data or paperwork alone is insufficient; supervisors must directly observe service delivery regularly. (3) Failure to give honest performance feedback — supervisors who avoid difficult conversations about poor performance put clients at risk. (4) Inadequate supervisor competence — supervising in areas outside one's competence violates Code 4.01. (5) Supervisor burnout — taking on too many supervisees compromises supervision quality. (6) Delegating beyond competence — assigning tasks that exceed the supervisee's training without adequate support. (7) Best practices include: documented supervision contracts, clear performance expectations, regular feedback (positive and corrective), progressive training plans, data-based supervision decisions, emergency protocols, and backup supervision plans. (8) Group supervision should supplement but not replace individual supervision. (9) Remote supervision must maintain the same quality standards as in-person. Relevant Code sections: 4.01-4.11.
Official source: read the full text in the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts (2022) (official document).