CHW124-Maintaining Professional Boundaries Policy

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

Maintaining Professional Boundaries Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish clear guidelines on maintaining professional boundaries between staff and service users at {{org_field_name}}. Maintaining professional boundaries is essential in ensuring safe, respectful, and ethical care while protecting service users, staff, and the organisation from conflicts of interest, exploitation, or safeguarding concerns. This policy promotes a person-centred approach, ensuring that relationships between staff and service users remain professional, respectful, and appropriate at all times.

This policy ensures compliance with:

The Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016, which requires care homes to maintain high professional standards in social care settings.
Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) regulations, ensuring that professional relationships are maintained to protect the dignity, safety, and rights of service users.
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, which promotes safeguarding, dignity, and independence in care services.
The Code of Professional Practice for Social Care (Social Care Wales), which provides guidance on professional conduct.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, ensuring that staff conduct does not compromise safety or professional integrity.
The Safeguarding Adults from Abuse and Improper Treatment Policy, ensuring that professional boundaries protect service users from exploitation, neglect, or harm.

This policy aims to:

Ensure that all staff understand and maintain professional boundaries in their interactions with service users.
Prevent conflicts of interest, abuse, or inappropriate relationships.
Promote a culture of respect, dignity, and professional conduct.
Ensure safeguarding procedures are in place to identify and address boundary violations.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

All employees at {{org_field_name}}, including permanent, temporary, agency, and voluntary staff.
Visitors and contractors working within the care home.
Service users and their families, ensuring they understand staff professional responsibilities.

This policy covers:

Acceptable and unacceptable professional behaviours.
Managing emotional and personal relationships in the workplace.
Guidelines on gifts, personal favours, and financial transactions.
Use of social media and digital communication.
Reporting boundary concerns and safeguarding risks.

3. Professional Conduct and Boundaries

3.1 Expected Professional Behaviour

Staff must:

Maintain a respectful, caring, and professional relationship with service users.
Be consistent, fair, and impartial in their interactions.
Use appropriate communication and language, ensuring they do not share personal issues, opinions, or inappropriate information.
Ensure that care remains focused on the needs of the service user, not their own emotional or personal concerns.
Act in the best interests of service users at all times, following ethical care principles.

3.2 Prohibited Conduct

The following behaviours are considered boundary violations and are strictly prohibited:

Engaging in personal relationships (e.g., friendships, romantic, or sexual relationships) with current service users.
Sharing personal contact details with service users or their families unless required for professional reasons.
Accepting large gifts or money from service users.
Borrowing or lending money, goods, or property from service users.
Providing or requesting personal favours, including personal errands.
Spending excessive or unnecessary time with one service user, leading to favouritism or dependence.
Discussing personal, financial, or confidential work matters with service users.

4. Personal and Emotional Relationships in the Workplace

4.1 Managing Emotional Involvement

Staff must be aware of the risk of becoming emotionally over-involved with service users. While compassion and empathy are essential in care work, staff must:

Maintain emotional detachment, ensuring decisions are based on professional judgment, not personal feelings.
Avoid becoming a ‘friend’ or ‘confidant’ rather than a care professional.
Recognise and report signs of attachment that may compromise objectivity or professional conduct.

If a staff member feels they are becoming emotionally over-involved, they must seek guidance from their manager or safeguarding lead.

4.2 Staff Working with Relatives or Friends

Where a staff member is caring for a friend or family member, they must:

Declare the relationship to management before providing care.
Ensure decisions are made in the best interests of the service user and not influenced by personal bias.
Avoid making clinical, financial, or legal decisions related to the individual.

5. Financial Transactions and Gifts

5.1 Receiving and Giving Gifts

Staff must not accept gifts of significant monetary value from service users or families.
Small tokens (e.g., chocolates or flowers) may be permitted on special occasions but must be recorded and declared.
Staff must never offer or give money, personal gifts, or loans to service users.

5.2 Handling Service User Money

Staff must not handle service users’ personal finances unless authorised through a formal arrangement.
Any financial transactions must be recorded and overseen by senior management.
Fraud or financial abuse must be reported immediately under the Safeguarding Policy.

6. Social Media and Digital Communication

6.1 Personal and Professional Boundaries Online

Staff must:

Not share personal phone numbers or social media profiles with service users.
Not post about work-related matters on personal social media.
Not engage in private messaging, emails, or texts outside professional requirements.
Report any inappropriate digital communication requests from service users or their families.

7. Reporting Boundary Concerns

7.1 How to Report Concerns

If a staff member becomes aware of a boundary violation, they must:

Report it immediately to their line manager or safeguarding lead.
Document the incident, ensuring all details are recorded accurately.
Follow the Whistleblowing Policy if the concern involves serious misconduct or abuse.

7.2 Addressing Breaches of Professional Boundaries

If a breach occurs, management will:

Conduct a confidential investigation.
Provide training or supervision if the breach was unintentional or due to a lack of understanding.
Take disciplinary action where necessary, including suspension or dismissal.

Serious breaches, such as financial exploitation, abuse, or inappropriate relationships, will be referred to CIW and relevant safeguarding authorities.

8. Managing This Policy Efficiently

8.1 Employer Responsibilities

{{org_field_name}} will:

Provide clear guidance and training on professional boundaries.
Monitor staff interactions to prevent boundary concerns.
Encourage open communication about professional concerns.
Take swift action to address breaches or misconduct.

8.2 Employee Responsibilities

Employees must:

Understand and adhere to this policy at all times.
Report any concerns regarding professional boundaries.
Participate in regular training and refresher courses.

9. Related Policies

This policy should be read alongside:

Safeguarding Adults from Abuse and Improper Treatment Policy.
Whistleblowing (Speaking Up) Policy.
Confidentiality and Data Protection Policy.
Disciplinary and Grievance Policy.

10. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if new regulatory guidance or concerns arise.

Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}
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