Boundaries
Where do we draw the line between personal and professional relationships?
How should social workers present themselves to service users?
Think of the following questions and consider whether you would answer ‘always’, ‘never’ or ‘it depends’.
If your answer is ‘it depends’ what does it depend on?
Are there questions which you have a clear and strong response to?
Are there others which you are not sure about? Why?
What circumstances might lead you to answer questions differently?
How do your own personal beliefs affect your answers? Might they result in discrimination?
Reciprocation
Do service users and carers call you by your first name?
Do you call them by their first name?
Would you accept a gift/service from a service user or carer?
For instance would you let them:
Bake you a cake?
Knit you a jumper?
Help fix your car?
Mend an electrical fault in your home?
Phones
Would you give your personal mobile phone number to a service user or carer?
Would you send them a text message from that phone?
Would you turn your mobile phone off when visiting a service user or carer?
Presentation
Would you wear any of the following when visiting a service user or carer:
Jeans and trainers?
A FCUK t-shirt?
A t-shirt that exposes your midriff?
Visible body piercing or tattoos?
A badge saying ‘Stop the War’, ‘Proud to be Gay’ or similar?
Interview culture
On a home visit would you accept:
A cup of tea or coffee?
A snack?
An alcoholic drink?
A meal?
Would you make a cup of tea or coffee for the service user or carer if they needed support?
Would you cook them a meal?
Social contact
Would you accept any of the following from a service user or carer:
A wedding invitation?
An invitation to a party?
A request to attend a funeral with them?
Would you lend money to a service user or carer?
Would you take the children of a service user or carer out on your own?
If you used it would you accept a Facebook request (or similar) from a service user?
Self-disclosure
Do you compare life experiences with service users or carers?
For example would you:
Let them know how you feel about their circumstances?
Let them know what sort of day you’ve had?
Talk about your own experiences?
Talk about the experiences of other service users or carers in similar circumstances?
Do you share personal information with service users or carers?
For example would you tell them:
Good news such as your partner has had a promotion?
Bad news like your father suffers from dementia?
Your holiday plans?
Would you disclose to a service user or carer if you disagree with one of your agency’s policies?
Touch
When you meet a service user or carer do you:
Shake hands?
Kiss sociably on the cheek?
Embrace?
High five?
When a service user or carer is upset would you touch them on:
The arm?
Round the shoulder?
On the knee?
Looking the other way
If you were aware of it would you ignore illegal activity such as:
Drug use?
Claiming benefit fraudulently?
Receiving stolen goods?
Unlawful sexual activity?
Sexuality
Would you:
Flirt with a service user or carer?
Discuss you sex life with them?
Help a disabled person find a prostitute or buy a pornographic magazine?
Disclose your sexual orientation?
Adapted from Doel, M & Shardlow, S. 2005. Modern Social Work Practice. Aldershot: Ashgate.