Well done, you made the correct decision.
In your reflective activity, you should have covered all of these points:
- You did the right thing when you made your manager aware of the situation. It was important to immediately highlight the potential conflict of interest and professional boundaries issues.
- You understand and comply with the SSSC Code of Practice for Social Service Workers. You know all social service workers are expected to respect confidential information. You know to declare issues that might create conflicts of interest and you make sure these do not influence your judgement or practice.
- You know and comply with your employer’s policies on confidentiality. You appreciate that people who use services have the right to expect they will have their privacy and confidentiality upheld by social service workers in whom they and the public place their trust and confidence.
- You know all social service workers must be able to explain and account for their practice. You communicate with colleagues and people who use services in an appropriate, open, accurate and straightforward way.
- You recognise the power that comes from your work with people who use services and the community and use this responsibly. You know you are expected to respect and maintain the dignity and privacy of people who use services. You know a breach of confidentiality about people who use services may put them at risk of harm.
- You know you must act in a way that demonstrates you are trustworthy and reliable. Through your actions you earn the trust of colleagues, people who use services and the public. You know a failure to comply with guidelines on confidentiality constitutes a breach of trust.
- You know if you had not taken the correct action in this situation, it could have called into question your suitability to be a registered social worker. An investigation by your employer or the SSSC may have resulted in disciplinary action and even the loss of your eligibility to remain on the SSSC register.
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