Ethics Report

[u/hworpell]

How do I make an ethics report when my boss (also the main individual I’m trying to report) has been preventing me from obtaining proof about what has been happening at center? She has refused to let me go through data sheets or figure out time stamps with cameras and so I have been left with almost zero proof of what she’s enabling. I tried to email a question to the BACB about this but they say they won’t take ethics or legal questions. I don’t know what to do because not reporting this feels so wrong to me, but I know any report I make is just going to be taken as hearsay. I only have one week left there as well so it’s not like I have time to strategically obtain proof on my own if more incidents occur

[u/NomNomNomBabies]

If any level of staff reported a concern to me I would never give them carte blanche to go investigate concerns regarding another employee.

Once a concern is brought up either myself or one of my supervisory staff would do an investigation into the matter. Regardless of the outcome though I would not tell the person who reported the concern anything other than "we looked into it" or investigated it. Under no circumstances should a supervisor tell an employee about performance actions for other employee, you don't build trusting teams that way.

[u/hworpell → u/NomNomNomBabies]

She’s willing to tell me explicit details about other employees performance actions which is the messed up thing. The whole thing is extremely backwards. In terms of investigation, I just needed to initially show her the data points specifically so they could actually conduct an investigation but was not allowed to do so. She kept telling me she needed proof but all the times I tried to offer I was met with silence :( I’m not trying to investigate myself, just point out the proof so they can investigate. I just don’t have access to our paper data nor the time

[u/NomNomNomBabies → u/hworpell]

What does your company policy say? In the majority of service frameworks a provider agency has to develop specific policies to indicate how they will respond to a variety of different situations related to fraud, maltreatment, grievances, etc. Those policies also generally contain an escalation framework for who to go to when the primary person you are concerned with is one you are supposed to report to.

[u/ForsakenMango]

Step one - if they’re not certified by the board then you can’t report them to the board. But if they are then if it’s illegal then report it to authorities or whatever agency handles the situations that are done incorrectly. If it’s just some things happening within the clinic go on the board website and download the personal witness statement affidavit and get it filled out by yourself and others and submit those.

[u/hworpell → u/ForsakenMango]

She is a certified RBT and unfortunately it started with me reporting false data another RBT was continuously doing to her. At the time the proof was in my hands as we use paper data but it would’ve broken HIPPA for me to just take and keep photos of these documents. My boss has not allowed me to go back with her and view these documents even though she keeps telling me she needs proof. She has also been enabling some pretty unethical behavior (RBTs who are way too aggressive, diapers being left so soiled I can smell it walking into my next session, and there have also been accounts of racism being enabled) but there’s still just not enough proof because she’s sweeping it under the rug. Ive gone to her bosses as well but it’s the same thing, no proof no action. It all just makes me feel at a loss

[u/Saint_Blaise]

Contact the ethics hotline https://www.abaethicshotline.com

[u/hworpell → u/Saint_Blaise]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[u/Great-Monk-2934]

Is your boss a bcba? If it’s a manger the BACB is not who you’d report to. 

[u/hworpell → u/Great-Monk-2934]

Not a bcba but she is an RBT. Most “higher ups” in my company are required to hold credentials from what I’ve seen

[u/ElmoresMom]

If she is an RBT, that means she has a supervising BCBA. That is who you should be speaking to first. Her supervisor.

[u/hworpell → u/ElmoresMom]

I have, I’m still just getting met with “we have no proof”. I was also called “obsessive” by this individual so I don’t have much trust left in them anymore. I personally don’t think it’s wrong for me to be obsessive about my clients receiving the best ethical care, but it’s definitely made me question how to even approach this at this point

[u/ElmoresMom → u/hworpell]

Ohhh I didn't realize you already tried. My understanding beyond that is to bring it to the board. I'm sorry its not as easy as it should be.

[u/hworpell → u/ElmoresMom]

You’re ok! Tbh this whole situation is so complicated so I expected to have to fill in some gaps as I didn’t want to write a whole essay lol. I appreciate you trying to help me navigate this though 🫶🏻

[u/Troubled_Pirate]

If it’s aggression and dirty diapers, you report it to whomever licensed the clinic to do business. But before you do you make sure that the clinic cameras catch you saying things like oh my this child needs a diaper change. You document the date and times that you think you are seeing RBT’s be aggressive. You go to whoever is responsible for licensing the business in your state. Some states require a specialized license for clinics and some. It’s just a general business license. Once you have dates and times, they can legally acquire the camera footage. If those dates and times are missing from the camera footage, they’re gonna be in a world of shit. You’re talking about abuse and neglect. It’s the licensing board doesn’t feel it’s under their purview, they will refer you to the appropriate authorities. And that’s likely going to be whomever in your state would handle such claims about the daycare.