Professionalism, Ethics, and Legal Responsibilities
Professionalism, Ethics, and Legal Responsibilities tests conduct under duty of care, confidentiality, mandated reporting, and professional boundaries. The exam asks what you do, in what order, and what you never do.
Core rules
- Duty of care: act as a reasonable professional would; supervise, prevent foreseeable harm, and respond promptly.
- Mandated reporting: report reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect to the designated child protection authority, following local law and service policy. You do not investigate, interview, or confront the alleged abuser.
- Confidentiality: share information only on a need-to-know basis; secure records; do not discuss children on social media or in public.
- Informed consent: obtain written permission for medication, photos, transport, referrals, and release of information, unless emergency or legal exception applies.
- Professional boundaries: no dual relationships, no private social media contact with children, no corporal punishment, no restraint except as a last-resort safety procedure under policy.
- Document objectively and promptly: incident reports, injuries, medication, and concerns.
Worked example
A child has a bruise in a pattern and gives a vague story. The correct reasoning: this meets reasonable suspicion; record the visible mark and the child's exact words, date, time, and who was present; report to child protection; notify the director as policy requires; do not contact the family if that could endanger the child; cooperate with investigators. Reasoning: your role is protection and accurate documentation, not diagnosis.
Traps
Investigating first; promising I won't tell; delaying a report to get more evidence; taking photos of injuries without authorization; posting classroom photos; giving personal phone numbers; using physical punishment or humiliation.