homework due tomorrow 

Watch Managing Boundaries video:

http://www.cengage.com/custom/UoP/Step8.html

Each team member will write a 350-to 500-word paper on a different situation, which could be considered crossing boundaries between client and caseworker and could become an ethical violation.

Combine each team member’s paper into one team paper. 

Include an introduction and a conclusion or summary on your team’s paper on Boundary Issues, have one team member post to the team assignment section.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Boundaries Issues

Teresa Smalls, karanda Farmer, Troy Randall

University of Phoenix

BSHS/335

March 1, 2014

      Many professionals enter into the field of social service work to help others grow and improve their life situations. Yet in still, when working with clients, human service workers must maintain clear boundaries to assure professional integrity and responsibility. The human service field has many set boundaries that we must abide by. We take an oath as human service workers to uphold the ethical code of conduct and make sure that we are using this code in our everyday practice of human service management. Some of these boundaries are in a professional nature, and some are in a personal, multiple relationship nature. Professional boundaries limit the services that we can render to a client, and personal boundaries limit our interaction with a client. Setting personal boundaries is key when dealing with clients in the human service field. If these boundaries are not set and a violation has occurred, the repercussions could hurt the reputation of your organization and the progress that you have made with a client. Boundaries help build a professional relationship with a client. It helps each party involved know the role that they play in making the success of the endeavor of them receiving help possible. These boundaries have to be set as soon as the client and the human service worker initially meet. The boundaries should include the way that the client and the worker communicate with each other and the discussions that they have at each meeting. When dealing with clients, a major skill that human service workers must employ in facilitating the client’s growth or change process is to earn their confidence, respect and trust. A boundary breach or any ethics code violation would compromise the relationship and make it difficult to help the client. In this paper, we will review why boundary issues should be set between clients and human service workers, and the impact that it will have if these boundaries are not set. We will be discussing different scenarios that could potentially become ethic code violations between a client and a human service worker, and conclude with helpful information and a summary of the information we have discussed.

Boundaries Issues

The boundaries between the caseworker and their client should be established immediately.  Examples to which should never be conducted or entered into outside of the professional environment are giving gifts, socializing, or sexual encounters.  Clients who are seeking help because of their situation possess a low self-esteem, and the need to be cared about.  By giving a client a gift may create the impression that the social worker is more than just someone assigned to handle his or her case.  The client may interpret this gesture as one of affection.  Sexual interaction between the client and the caseworker is strongly discouraged.  It is harmful, it violates the code of ethics, and must be avoided so that a successful outcome results in solving the problem, which the client has undergoing.  The human service professionals in a very basic way are like performers in the movies or on the stage.  They must develop an assortment of roles in the service of their client.  During the caseworkers’ involvement with their client, there are consistent in maintaining their professional position.  The human service professional primary duties are that of a caregiver with the understanding that all methods, duties, and procedures stay wellwithin the boundaries of these ethical issues.  Once the clients that trust as been establishing, the caseworker should never take advantage of their clients emotional, and personal circumstances in a non-professional way.

Having a social relationship with their client is important, some of the ways that the professional can maintain a social relationship which is professional, would be to communicate by phone, or send them e-mails which can all be executed from the office.  The code of ethics and the confidentiality act are tools which safeguard against inappropriate types of behavior, which involves the caseworker/human service professional from resulting in a situation, which is harmful to themselves and the treatment of their client. 

There are times when the issues are discussed and it may be difficult for both parties to follow because people are human and they are sometimes emotional.   Whether they are positive or negative, it is a part of life.  When people lives has been changed in some sort of negative way, they turn to a place or person to assist them with their problem, and should never have their situation exploited while seeking a cure.

Reference

Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions, Gerald Corey - © CengageLearning http://www.cengage.com/custom/UoP/Step8.html

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