Week 3 - Personal Boundaries and Ethical Decision-Making
To prepare for working with justice-involved individuals, the best way to protect yourself from failing due to ethical issues is to think through dilemmas ahead of time and know how to establish your personal boundaries.
Background: You have been tasked by your supervisor to provide a training session for the new support workers who were recently hired. The topic is Making Ethical Decisions When Faced with Ethical Dilemmas.
Write a 700-word document which will be used as a handout for the training session. Address the following:
Describe 1 situation which may violate personal boundaries of either the worker or the client, and poses a typical professional dilemma/conflict for the worker, when working with correctional clients. Clearly identify what/which and whose boundaries are being violated.
Identify one code of ethics (ex: CCP Code of Ethics, ACA Code of ethics, etc.) and explain which section/element/part identifies the situation as a possible violation.
Choose one of the four decision-making models presented in our readings and explain the steps/processes/elements of the model.
Using the example (#1 above), outline how your selected model would be applied (how that leads you to your decision) and the decision you would make.
Format as a handout. Include a brief introduction and a brief final summary (conclusion). Use section headings to identify each of the 4 items listed above. Graphics may be used to help deliver the information and capture the attention of the audience, but they are not required. APA style is not required for page layout.
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Making Ethical Decisions When Faced with Ethical Dilemmas
Introduction:
As support workers in the field of correctional clients, it is essential to develop a strong understanding of personal boundaries and ethical decision-making. This handout will provide valuable insights into a situation that may violate personal boundaries, the identification of a relevant code of ethics, an explanation of a decision-making model, and the application of the model to a specific scenario.
1. Violation of Personal Boundaries:
Situation: A support worker becomes friends on social media with a recently released correctional client and starts engaging in personal conversations beyond the professional scope. This scenario violates the personal boundaries of the worker and the client.
Whose boundaries are violated: Both the worker and the client.
2. Code of Ethics and Violation Identification:
Code of Ethics: ACA Code of Ethics
Section/Element/Part: The ACA Code of Ethics, Section A.5.d. clearly identifies situations where professionals must establish clear boundaries to avoid multiple relationships that may impair professional judgement and increase the risk of exploitation.
3. Decision-Making Model:
Utilitarian Model:
- Identify the problem or dilemma.
- List the potential alternatives.
- Evaluate the consequences of each alternative.
- Choose the alternative that maximizes overall well-being.
4. Application of Utilitarian Model:
In the given example, applying the Utilitarian Model would involve the following steps:
- Identify the problem: The worker is engaging in personal conversations with a client beyond the professional scope.
- List potential alternatives: 1) Cease all personal conversations and maintain a strictly professional relationship. 2) Set boundaries and maintain a limited level of personal conversation. 3) Continue the personal conversations without any changes.
- Evaluate the consequences: 1) Ceasing personal conversations would ensure professional boundaries and prevent potential harm to both parties. 2) Setting boundaries may help maintain a certain level of rapport but still carries the risk of blurred boundaries. 3) Continuing personal conversations may jeopardize the professional relationship and lead to potential exploitation or dependency.
- Choose the alternative that maximizes overall well-being: Based on the ethical principles and professional responsibility, option 1 (ceasing all personal conversations) aligns with the Utilitarian Model as it prioritizes the well-being and safety of both the worker and the client.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, understanding personal boundaries and ethical decision-making is crucial when working with correctional clients. By applying decision-making models like the Utilitarian Model, support workers can navigate ethical dilemmas while upholding professional standards and protecting the well-being of themselves and their clients.