● Documenting surroundings and who was present during sessions and visits. ● Avoiding seeing the client at late hours or in locations that are atypical for routine practice. Reporting sexual misconduct by a colleague is an ethical responsibility of mental health practitioners. Many states have laws that require licensed professionals to report such misconduct, as well as other ethical violations to their State Boards. It is the responsibility of every professional to protect clients by reporting a reasonable knowledge or suspicion of misconduct between the client and colleague.
Anyone working in mental health practice has experienced different relationships with clients. Sometimes it is nearly impossible not to form respect and even affection for clients. However, practitioners must work diligently to avoid problems, i.e., either crossing the boundaries of the professional relationship or even appearing to do so. In addition to other previously discussed actions designed to prevent harm to the client, workers can proactively address this issue by doing the following: ● Limiting practice to those populations that do not cause your own needs to surface. ● Seeking clinical supervision to effectively deal with personal feelings.
Professional Boundaries Self-Assessment Below are red flags that professional boundaries may be compromised. Some relate to you and some to clients. As you honestly answer the following questions Yes or N o , reflect on the potential for harm to your client. Yes No Have you ever spent time with a client “off duty”? Have you ever kept a secret with a client?
Have you ever adjusted your dress for a client? Has a client ever changed a style of dress for you? Have you ever received a gift from a client? Have you shared personal information with a client? Have you ever bent the rules for a client? Have you ever given a client a gift? Have you ever visited a client after case termination?
Have you ever called a client when “off duty”? Have you ever felt sexually attracted to a client? Have you ever reported only the positive or only the negative aspects of a client? Have you ever felt that colleagues/family members are jealous of your client relationship? Do you think you could ever become over-involved with a client? Have you ever felt possessive about a client?
Clients who lack decision-making capacity The practitioner’s responsibility is to safeguard the rights and interests of clients who lack decision-making capacity. Persons who lack this capacity include intellectually delayed or impaired individuals, some older adults, and children under the age of 18. It is especially important to utilize consent forms at all times, and inform and document contact with family and other service providers. In addition, social work professionals should understand how these clients may become vulnerable to – and potentially harmed by – businesses, institutions, and family or other caregivers. Social workers, for example, are obligated to serve within the best interests of children, and to help guide decision making; to ethically work toward children’s well-being, therefore, social workers must focus on the potential for abuse. The welfare of all children must be of utmost concern to society: Their best interest is at the heart of decision making. Yet caring and ethical conduct also stresses the importance of promoting positive relationships – working toward the prevention of family disintegration. This can pose an ethical dilemma in some scenarios.
For example: Parental rights are in the process of being terminated for two sibling clients. Ana, their mental health counselor, must consider how the two girls would adjust to their prospective adoptive placement: One of the children has a severe attachment disorder. Should the two children be placed together, or will placing them together prolong a prospective adoption? Should each sibling’s placement be separately planned? Ana knows that sibling bonds may be stronger than parental attachments in families where the parental system is dysfunctional. So she must refer to sources outside of her immediate level of expertise as she considers her recommendations. One important source of information would be the Child Welfare League of America’s (2016) standard for out-of-home care for neglected and abused children, which states that siblings should remain together. However, the standard also indicates that, in some cases, separation is indicated.
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Book Code: SWNY1224
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