BOUNDARIES & TERMINATION in working with clients November 20, 2015 Legal Services for Children 10/24/2014 NASW CA Conference BOUNDARIES & TERMINATION in working with clients November 20, 2015 Ron Gutierrez, LCSW Anjuli Arora Dow, Attorney www.lsc-sf.org

Legal Services for Children 10/24/2014 NASW CA Conference Ethical Practices Quiz Please indicate how you would respond (Yes, No, or Maybe) to each of the following situations. Accept a small gift from a client ($5 value) Accept a larger gift from a client ($20 value) Loan or give money to a client Accept a client invitation to a special occasion Give a client your personal contact information Buy food or meals for a client Talk with a client you see in the community Raise or donate money to assist clients Socialize with a client outside of work Ask participants to complete this ethical quiz on their own for a few minutes and then follow up with a report back asking for volunteers for each question. www.lsc-sf.org

Ethical Practices Quiz (continued) Legal Services for Children 10/24/2014 NASW CA Conference Ethical Practices Quiz (continued) Eating food or meals during a home visit Give gifts to a client Allow your child to be friends with a client’s child Share personal information with a client Refer a client to a friend for services Ask participants to complete this ethical quiz on their own for a few minutes and then follow up with a report back asking for volunteers for each question. Source: Paul Gibson, LCSW www.lsc-sf.org

Legal Services for Children 10/24/2014 NASW CA Conference Self Reflection Ethical Practices Quiz www.lsc-sf.org

Why are boundaries important? Legal Services for Children 10/24/2014 NASW CA Conference Why are boundaries important? For Client: ™Role modeling to the client healthy communication and professional relationships Avoiding the “rescuer” role Staying focused on one’s responsibilities to the client & the provision of helpful and appropriate services to the client Source: Maintaining Professional Boundaries in Interpersonal Work, Kelly Wolf, CASA of Santa Cruz County www.lsc-sf.org

Why are boundaries important? Legal Services for Children 10/24/2014 NASW CA Conference Why are boundaries important? For Self: Avoiding burn-out (“compassion fatigue”) ™ If working in conjunction with other services providers: maintaining a healthy, open, communicating and functioning team ™ Maintaining one’s physical and emotional safety Source: Maintaining Professional Boundaries in Interpersonal Work, Kelly Wolf, CASA of Santa Cruz County www.lsc-sf.org

The Zone of Helpfulness Legal Services for Children 10/24/2014 NASW CA Conference The Zone of Helpfulness www.lsc-sf.org

The Zone of Helpfulness, continued Legal Services for Children 10/24/2014 NASW CA Conference The Zone of Helpfulness, continued A zone of helpfulness is in the center of the professional behavior continuum. This zone is where the majority of client interactions should occur for effectiveness and client safety. Over-involvement with a client is to the right side of the continuum; this includes boundary crossings, boundary violations and professional sexual misconduct. Under-involvement lies on the left side; this includes distancing, disinterest, and neglect and it can also be detrimental to the client and the nurse. There are no definite lines separating the zone of helpfulness from the ends of the continuum; instead it is a gradual transition or melding. Source: The National Council of State Boards of Nursing www.lsc-sf.org

Legal Services for Children 10/24/2014 NASW CA Conference Small Group Exercise www.lsc-sf.org

Scope of Representation Legal Services for Children 10/24/2014 NASW CA Conference Scope of Representation ABA Rule 1.2 - Scope Of Representation And Allocation Of Authority Between Client And Lawyer (b) A lawyer's representation of a client, including representation by appointment, does not constitute an endorsement of the client's political, economic, social or moral views or activities. ABA Rule 2.1 Advisor In representing a client, a lawyer shall exercise independent professional judgment and render candid advice. In rendering advice, a lawyer may refer not only to law but to other considerations such as moral, economic, social and political factors, that may be relevant to the client's situation. www.lsc-sf.org

Terminating Client-Lawyer Relationship/ Rules of Professional Conduct Legal Services for Children 10/24/2014 NASW CA Conference Terminating Client-Lawyer Relationship/ Rules of Professional Conduct ABA Rule 1.16 Declining Or Terminating Representation (d) Upon termination of representation, a lawyer shall take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client's interests, such as giving reasonable notice to the client, allowing time for employment of other counsel, surrendering papers and property to which the client is entitled and refunding any advance payment of fee or expense that has not been earned or incurred. The lawyer may retain papers relating to the client to the extent permitted by other law. Rule 3-700 (C)(5) Termination of Employment The client knowingly and freely assents to termination of the employment 3-700 (D) Papers, Property, and Fees. A member whose employment has terminated shall: Subject to any protective order or non-disclosure agreement, promptly release to the client, at the request of the client, all the client papers and property. "Client papers and property" includes correspondence, pleadings, deposition transcripts, exhibits, physical evidence, expert's reports, and other items reasonably necessary to the client's representation, whether the client has paid for them or not; and EXPLANATION: Paragraph (D) is not intended to prohibit a member from making, at the member's own expense, and retaining copies of papers released to the client, nor to prohibit a claim for the recovery of the member's expense in any subsequent legal proceeding www.lsc-sf.org

Legal Services for Children 10/24/2014 NASW CA Conference Termination How this fits in with boundaries When to start discussing termination The importance of a “healthy goodbye” Planning ahead Use of supervision www.lsc-sf.org

Legal Services for Children 10/24/2014 NASW CA Conference Self Care Ideas Limit after hours accessibility by phone/email Seek out therapeutic support for coping with vicarious trauma/compassion fatigue Take lunch breaks—and talking to coworkers about topics other than work Say no to extra responsibilities sometimes Take time for massage, acupuncture, yoga, exercise, meditation, etc. Take time off! www.lsc-sf.org