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{{org_field_name}}

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

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Professional Boundaries and Relationships Policy

{{org_field_name}}

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide clear guidance to all staff engaged by {{org_field_name}} on maintaining appropriate, professional, and ethical relationships with service users, colleagues, and other stakeholders in line with legislation, regulatory standards, and best practice. Professional boundaries are essential in safeguarding the welfare, dignity, and rights of service users, maintaining public trust, and ensuring safe, effective, and high-quality care. Temporary healthcare workers, particularly those working in multiple care homes and unfamiliar settings, may encounter unique challenges in balancing therapeutic relationships with boundary maintenance. This policy clarifies expectations, standards, and procedures to prevent boundary violations or abuses of power. It applies equally to all staff, including registered nurses, healthcare assistants, and support staff, to promote and maintain the highest professional standards at all times.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all individuals engaged by {{org_field_name}} under zero-hours, temporary, or flexible contracts, including but not limited to:

• Registered Nurses
• Healthcare Assistants (HCAs)
• Senior Carers
• Temporary or agency workers placed with clients
• Directors, supervisors, and administrative staff involved in staff placement, support, or management
  It applies to all relationships formed in the course of employment, including interactions with service users, their families, colleagues, other professionals, and clients.

3. Related Policies

• Code of Conduct
• Safeguarding Adults and Children Policy
• Disciplinary Policy
• Whistleblowing Policy
• Social Media and Confidentiality Policy
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
• Incident and Accident Reporting Policy

4. Policy Statement

{{org_field_name}} is committed to upholding the highest standards of professional conduct and integrity in all areas of service delivery. Maintaining professional boundaries is vital to ensure:

• The safety and wellbeing of service users
• The protection of staff from allegations or misunderstandings
• Compliance with the NMC Code, the Care Certificate Standards, and the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England
• The maintenance of professional credibility and public confidence
• Adherence to the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
  All staff have a duty to uphold professional boundaries at all times, both within the workplace and in any associated external relationships that arise due to their professional role.

5. Responsibilities

Director
As {{org_field_name}} does not have a registered manager, the Director is directly responsible for:

• Developing, approving, and reviewing this policy annually
• Promoting an organisational culture of professionalism, respect, and ethical conduct
• Ensuring that all staff receive clear guidance, induction, and ongoing training on maintaining professional boundaries
• Monitoring incidents, complaints, and concerns related to boundary issues
• Taking appropriate action where breaches of professional boundaries are identified, including disciplinary action and referral to professional bodies where required

All Staff
All staff are responsible for:

• Maintaining clear and appropriate boundaries in all professional relationships
• Acting in accordance with this policy, the Code of Conduct, and all relevant professional standards
• Reporting concerns or suspected breaches of boundaries immediately
• Seeking guidance where they are unsure if a situation may constitute a boundary violation
• Cooperating fully with investigations into boundary-related concerns

6. Defining Professional Boundaries

Professional boundaries are limits which protect the space between the professional’s power and the service user’s vulnerability. They are the framework within which a professional relationship exists. Staff must always prioritise the best interests of the service user and recognise the power imbalance inherent in their role.
Key principles of professional boundaries include:

• Avoiding personal, social, sexual, financial, or other inappropriate relationships with service users
• Providing care in a respectful, non-judgemental, and impartial manner
• Maintaining confidentiality and respecting service user privacy
• Avoiding favouritism, gift acceptance, or special treatment
• Ensuring all relationships with colleagues and clients remain professional

7. Examples of Boundary Violations

Examples of actions considered breaches of professional boundaries include but are not limited to:

• Entering into a personal, romantic, or sexual relationship with a service user or their relative
• Accepting or soliciting gifts, money, loans, or favours from service users or their families
• Disclosing personal contact information (e.g., personal phone number, address, social media accounts)
• Socialising with service users or their relatives outside the work context
• Using social media to communicate with or share personal information about service users or their families
• Discussing personal matters with service users to an extent that may be perceived as unprofessional or manipulative
• Providing care that exceeds authorised or expected limits without prior approval
• Failing to challenge or report inappropriate behaviour or boundary violations by colleagues

8. Power and Trust

Healthcare workers, particularly nurses and carers, are in positions of power and trust due to the nature of their role. Many service users are vulnerable due to age, disability, illness, or dependency. Staff must never exploit this position, directly or indirectly, for personal, emotional, financial, or sexual gain. The use of influence for non-therapeutic purposes is strictly prohibited. Staff must always act in ways that uphold dignity, autonomy, and equality.

9. Gifts and Gratuities

Staff must not accept gifts or money from service users, their families, or representatives, except for items of nominal value (such as a thank-you card or box of chocolates). Any gift offered must be reported to the client’s manager and to {{org_field_name}}. Accepting larger gifts may constitute a breach of professional boundaries and may result in disciplinary action. Under no circumstances must staff solicit gifts or gratuities.

10. Social Media and Personal Contact

Staff must never:

• Share service user information on social media
• Post photographs or videos involving service users
• Accept or initiate friend requests or follow service users or their families on social media
• Discuss work-related matters online which could identify a service user, client, or colleague
• Arrange to meet service users outside of the professional setting
• Share personal telephone numbers, addresses, or email addresses with service users

11. Maintaining Boundaries with Colleagues and Clients

All staff are expected to act professionally in their interactions with colleagues, client organisations, and external professionals. Relationships should be based on mutual respect, collaboration, and a commitment to providing high-quality care. Bullying, harassment, exploitation, or discrimination will not be tolerated and will be managed under the Disciplinary Policy.

12. Addressing Boundary Challenges

{{org_field_name}} recognises that working in temporary placements may present additional challenges regarding boundary maintenance. Staff may encounter clients where professional and social roles overlap (e.g., local community connections). In these situations, staff must:

• Inform {{org_field_name}} and the client organisation
• Seek guidance on how to manage such situations professionally
• Refrain from accepting assignments where maintaining clear boundaries may be compromised

13. Training

All staff will receive mandatory training on professional boundaries as part of induction and through annual refresher training. Training will include:

• Recognising appropriate and inappropriate relationships
• Power imbalance in care settings
• Maintaining professional distance while showing empathy and compassion
• Reporting concerns related to boundaries
• Case studies to support reflection and application of learning

14. Reporting Concerns

All staff are required to report:

• Any actual or suspected breach of professional boundaries
• Any concerns about colleagues or other professionals
  Reports must be made without delay to {{org_field_name}} using the Incident Reporting Procedure or Whistleblowing Policy. Staff must also report boundary concerns to the client organisation immediately. Reports will be handled sensitively and confidentially, and staff will be protected from retaliation.

15. Investigations

Breaches of professional boundaries will be fully investigated by the Director.

• Staff will be treated fairly, in line with the Disciplinary Policy
• Where allegations are substantiated, appropriate actions will be taken, which may include dismissal, referral to the NMC, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Safeguarding Authority, or CQC
• Lessons learned will be shared internally to improve practice

16. Role of the Director

The Director will:

• Review and update this policy annually
• Ensure that incidents and concerns relating to professional boundaries are reviewed and investigated thoroughly
• Maintain records of all incidents, investigations, and outcomes
• Promote a culture of openness and professionalism across the organisation
• Ensure that learning from investigations is reflected in future training and policy updates

17. Record Keeping

Records relating to boundary concerns, reports, and investigations will be kept securely and confidentially in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR. Records will only be shared with relevant persons where required by law or regulatory obligations.

18. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed every 12 months or earlier if there are changes to legislation, regulatory guidance, or as a result of incidents or audits. The review will be completed by the Director of {{org_field_name}}.

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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}}
Copyright © {{current_year}} – {{org_field_name}}. All rights reserved.