Guidance from the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs regarding Best Practices to Promote an Abuse Free Environment and Maintaining Professional Boundaries: Recommendations for an Abuse Free Environment.
The concepts discussed to promote an Abuse Free Environment include:
- Create a Comprehensive Abuse Prevention Policy
- Provide Effective and Timely Staff Training
- Screen New Hires Thoroughly
- Manage Staff Stress and Burnout
- Address History of Deficiencies/Complaints
- Create an Empowering Culture and Management Team
- Address Physical Environment Concerns
- Address Person Condition of People Receiving Services
- Support Welcoming of Visitors
- Promote Supportive Interactions Between Staff and People Receiving Services
Ways to Ensure Professional Boundaries are being maintained with the People we Support:
Agencies
Establish a mission statement that emphasizes a committment to a safe and therapeutic environment.
Ensure that informed consent for treatment has been obtained.
Provide training to all staff on professiona and therapeutic relationships and trauma informed care.
Provide clear policies and direction to all staff on the use of social media at or about work.
Provide training for people in care on professional boundaries.
Set clear expectations that it is always staffs' responsibility to use professional boundaries.
Develop policies and practices to address violations of professional boundaries.
Care givers and staff
Demonstrate that your position being a role model bt maintaining professional boundaries with co-workers and people in care.
Always remain aware of your profession's code of ethics and the Justice Center Code of Conduct.
Build a strong personal support system that includes professionals, supervisors and others who share your ethical standards of maintaining healthy boundaries.
Attend training on trauma informed care.
Be aware of warning signs of crossing boundaries.
Do not allow personal bias to interfere with a person in care practicing their religion, faith, spiritual and cultural beliefs.
People receiving services, Advocates, Families and Friends
Learn the agency's policies and practices on how staff are to develop and sustain professional boundaries.
Participate in programming and treatment to learn how to use healthy boundaries in a variety of situations.
Where possible, request and review agency policies regarding the use of social media and how social media can impact boundaries.
Become educated about personal boundaries regarding your relationships with staff.
Speak up or ask someone to speak for you if you feel someone has crossed your boundaries.
Always remain aware of your profession's code of ethics and the Justice Center Code of Conduct.