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Boundaries training session

In this session we will cover:

  • Professional boundaries
  • Client rights and responsibilities
  • Code of conduct
  • Knowing your boundaries
  • Being aware of our behaviour

The session will take around 30 minutes to complete. At the end, you will be required to complete a short, comprehensive quiz.

Professional Boundaries

We all have boundaries. These are the rules that tell us how we interact with others. They tell us what is acceptable and what is not acceptable.

Professional Boundaries apply at work. These include rules that prevent the line between carer and client becoming blurred. They are rules used to protect clients and workers.

The community expects that Anglicare will provide a safe support environment at all times for clients. And employees have a responsibility to provide safety, trust and ethical behaviour in work relationships.

Sometimes we need to check how we are doing with our Professional Boundaries, especially because we work with people. This training will help to remind us of where the boundaries are.

Client Rights and Responsibilities

Boundaries have a lot to do with rights and responsibilities. Take a moment to refresh your knowledge of a client’s rights and responsibilities.

You can view Anglicare’s Charter of Rights and Responsibilities here.

Code of Conduct

Anglicare’s Code of Conduct tells us how we should act at work. It is a guide for how you make decisions and how you behave toward others in your day-to-day work.

The code of conduct is based on our values of justice, respect, compassion and hope.

Anglicare asks all employees to be reliable, consistent and most of all friendly and professional.

  • What things do you think Anglicare’s code of conduct talks about?

    • We act with honesty and integrity by applying ethical and professional behaviours.
    • We treat others with dignity, compassion and respect difference and diversity.
    • We will prioritise health and safety in all our work.
    • We identify conflicts of interest and manage them responsibly.
    • We agree to work within this Code, Federal and State law and Anglicare policies and procedures.
    • We act in the best interest of our community and our organisation.
    • We respect and maintain privacy and confidentiality.
    • We will not tolerate fraud or corruption.

    Read Anglicare’s full Code of Conduct policy here.

Support work requires a level of trust and closeness that is unique.

In a single day, workers may dress, shower, feed, toilet, cook with, have coffee with, speak to, listen to, and be a companion to, one or more clients.

This often involves work that is personally close in nature. This personal work causes a power imbalance, a situation where one person can control another person. Clients rely on staff and because they depend on this relationship it makes them vulnerable to a power imbalance. Some people may take advantage of this and that makes an unsafe situation for clients.

This power imbalance must be understood and managed. It must not be abused.

Keeping within Professional Boundaries for support will help you to manage the closeness of the relationship and this power imbalance.

Know your Boundaries

Professional Boundaries are the rules and limits that tell us how we should work. They come from Government Legislation, ethical principles, organisational guidelines, policies and procedures. We need to know our Professional Boundaries.
Read Anglicare's full Support Boundaries and Conduct Guidelines here.

  • Why do we need professional boundaries?

    Simply put professional boundaries help maintain a safe working environment.

    • They tell us what is appropriate in the workplace.
    • They help us communicate well.
    • They help us to be clear about our role and relationship with others.
    • Help to prevent stress and burnout.
    • Help us all to have a healthy work/life balance.

  • How do Professional Boundaries help us in support work?

    Boundaries help us:

    • manage situations where power imbalances exist
    • stop the lines becoming blurred between support worker and client
    • describe what acceptable behaviour looks like and how to respect one another
    • make good decisions about the support and care of clients
    • to treat all our clients fairly
    • stop clients becoming dependent on you and prevent you from getting over involved
    • to keep focused on the client’s needs and to achieve their goals
    • to work as a team and to work the same way as others in that team.

Not Friends, Not Family

  • Thinking about this video and your work supporting people, where else can professional boundaries be crossed?

    • Being asked to do additional favours for clients or their families.
    • A client asks you to do things outside the scope of your role or in your own time.
    • Spending time with the client outside of working hours.
    • Sharing your personal life with a client.
    • Giving or receiving of gifts.
    • Having a financial arrangement with a client that is not part of support.
    • Feelings of sexual attraction toward a client or from a client or having a sexual relationship with a client.
    • Discussing sexual problems with the client that can be referred to other health professionals.
    • Inviting a client to your home or a personal event (e.g. a birthday party).
    • Being invited by a client to their party or event that is not part of support.
    • Keeping a client’s contact details on your personal phone or on social media.
    • Discussing a client’s private information with others outside work.

  • Reflection: Take a moment to think about a client you have worked with. How did you keep the relationship professional and focused on the client’s needs?

Being aware of our behaviour

Employees need to be aware of behaviours that may lead to boundaries being crossed. We need to think about how and why we do things. There are some warning signs that can tell us there is a problem.

  • What behaviours might be warning signs of boundaries being crossed?

    • Frequently thinking of or worrying about a client while away from work.
    • Concerns that you can’t please or do enough for the client or family.
    • Feelings of personal responsibility for your client’s progress.
    • Using your own money to buy items for a client.
    • Bringing your family members while providing support.
    • Talking to a client about your personal life and problems.
    • You are finding it hard to accept opinions from other staff about the client’s supports.
    • Thinking that only you really understand the client.
    • Flirting or sexual conversations and actions.
    • Engaging in touching a client more than what is necessary for support or a client touching you inappropriately.
    • When the client has an obvious preference for a particular staff member.

    If you recognise any of these warning signs in your own behaviour (or that of a co-worker) please seek advice and support, talk to a manager.

How can we maintain professional boundaries?

  • Expectations

    • Set clear expectations with clients from the beginning about what they can expect from you and what you expect from them, this includes acceptable behaviours.
    • Encourage respect.
    • Be clear about your role, what you can do and what you cannot do.
    • You can be polite but assertive and let clients know if they are behaving inappropriately or asking for things that you cannot do.
    • Follow support plans and behaviour management plans.

  • Clear relationship

    • Having a professional relationship and a personal friendship with a client at the same time can make support difficult, speak with your manager if a friendship exists.
    • Be clear that we are friendly but professional.
    • Make sure support is based on client’s goals and needs.
    • Maintain your objectivity with clients.
    • Don’t over share or counsel clients.

  • Personal information, privacy and confidentiality

    • Avoid disclosing your personal information to a client.
    • Maintain your clients’ privacy and confidentiality.
    • Don’t talk about clients outside work.
    • Say hello to clients outside work if they say hello first and want you to talk to them.
    • Do not seek unnecessary information from the client that is not relevant to the support.

  • Check your behaviours

    • Regularly think about your work practice.
    • Review support boundary guidelines.
    • Give and receive feedback from others.

Anglicare's professional boundaries training quiz

Take a moment to think about work situations where a power imbalance may occur, and think about the professional boundaries you know about. Then read the following scenarios and answer the questions.

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