Ethics and Boundaries Training

1. Ethics and Boundaries Training

2. Training Objectives • Explores ethics and ethical boundaries • Discuss Ethical Dilemmas found in the workplace • Examine common unethical behaviors • Review standards of professional conduct and organization policy • Explore setting healthy boundaries in working with diverse clients

3. What are Ethics?

4. What are Ethics? • Ethics are a broad code outlining obligations and standards of conduct.

5. Where do ethics come from?

6. Where do ethics come from? • Ethics generally come from shared morals reflecting the values and judgments about “right” and “wrong” by society in general, and often by a specific group or organization

7. Professional Conduct & Responsibilities • PURPOSE • Preserve the integrity of the organization and its programs • Promote professionalism • Ensure the provision of quality services

8. Professional Conduct & Responsibilities • PRACTICE • Knowledge of policies • Security and supervision • Position responsibilities • Relations with other agencies • Relations with other employees • Relations with clients • Policy against sexual harrassment

9. Ethical Standards “code of behavior that guides our actions at work”

10. Ethical Guidelines • Ethical standards reflect: • Your role to the client • Your philosophy of care • Your role on the team and within the program

11. Ethical Behavior “behavior conforming to accepted principles of right and wrong that governs conduct of a profession or an organization”

12. Ethical Behavior Standard Description • Honor the dignity of each person • Never use your position to take advantage of the client(s) • Each person is a human being with a full range of strengths and challenges • Use care not to disrespect, prejudge or patronize • What advantages do we have over our clients? • Clients are not here to meet our needs

13. Ethical Behavior Standard Description • NO sexual contact or intimate relationships • Sexual contact – intimate touch, kissing, suggestive talk or narrative, nudity or exposure, conversations about sex, sexual relations • Intimacy = lost ability to be effective in providing services and destroys trust in the foundation of work, program systems, etc.

14. Ethical Behavior Standard Description • Documentation must be complete and accurate • Confidentiality • Inaccuracy compromises client and staff safety • Missed opportunity to assist client in need • Information you come by is specific to your work and you must not reveal information to anyone else, including conversations with co-workers and outside of work

15. Ethical Behavior Standard Description • NO use of drugs/alcohol with clients • Avoid Medical Issues • Including stories of use • Jeopardizes safety of clients and staff • Not qualified to diagnose • Not qualified to give medical or psychiatric advise • Not qualified to recommend medications or treatment

16. Ethical Guidelines • Clear, firm and professional boundaries in relationships with clients • Avoid compromising relationships • Agency staff shall not display favoritism or preferential treatment • Maintain the confidentiality of private information

17. Unethical Behavior • Undermines the mission to provide a program that is safe and secure for clients and staff

18. Unethical Behavior Unethical Behavior Includes, but not limited to: • Abuse of Clients • Physical • Sexual • Emotional / psychological not limited to targeting or ingnoring

19. Unethical Behavior Unethical Behavior Includes, but not limited to: • Inappropriate relationships • Bribery • Conflicts of interest • Solicitation of gifts or favors or services from clients clients’ relationships • Offering gifts or favors • Improper contact • Failure to report awareness of improper contact • Appearance of inappropriate relationships

20. Unethical Behavior Unethical Behavior Includes, but not limited to: • Introduction of contraband • Unauthorized materials introduced by staff – typically in exchange for receiving something of value, not limited to: • Food or Clothing • Publications • Cosmetics • Weapons • Money • Drugs or Alcohol

21. Unethical Behavior Unethical Behavior Includes, but not limited to: • Fiscal Improprieties • Falsification of hours worked or services produced • Theft • Misuse of funds or personal property of others

22. Unethical Behavior Unethical Behavior Includes, but not limited to: • Misconduct on-duty • Insubordination • Inattention • Failure to respond • Falsification of documentation • Loss of temper • Favoritism • Inappropriate supervision of clients

23. Unethical Behavior Unethical Behavior Includes, but not limited to: • Misconduct off-duty • Investigative violations • Arrest and /or conviction • Misuse of credentials • Illicit or immoral behavioral that directly relate to population served • Attempts to conceal • Intimidate clients or co-workers or manipulate into complicity

24. Boundaries

25. Boundaries • Involve “good judgment” based upon our expectations of the job and our own personal values and choices • Protects clients from possible conflicts of interest on our part • “Objectivity” is necessary when making decisions for clients • Allows us to meet the needs of the client in appropriate balance with our own needs

26. When Boundaries are too close: • Do you: • Have difficulty saying “no”? • Give too much? • Get involved too quickly? • Trust too easily? • Intrude on others? • Stay in relationships too long?

27. When Boundaries are too distant? • Do you: • Have difficulty saying “yes”? • Isolate? • Distrust too easily? • Feel lonely? • Stay in relationships too briefly?

28. What are Healthy Boundaries?

29. Healthy Boundaries are: FLEXIBLE • Adapting to situations in terms of closeness or distance • Able to let go of destructive relationships • Able to connect with nurturing relationship

30. Healthy Boundaries are: CONNECTED • Able to engage in balanced relationships with others • Able to maintain relationships over time • Able to work out conflicts • BALANCE IS THE KEY!

31. Learning to Say NO • Helps prevent exploitation of yourself and others • May protect from violating ethical guidelines What types of things might you have to say “NO” to in your job?

32. Learning to Say YES • Allows you to rely on others • Let’s yourself be known to others • Helps you feel supported • Gets you through tough times What types of things might you have to say “YES” to in your job?

33. IN REVIEW DO: Be law abiding Be truthful and accurate; Be honest and trustworthy Be responsible and reliable; Be fair and cooperative; Be economical in utilizing resources; Treat one another fairly and with dignity and respect.

34. The End