Observing Professional Boundaries for Caregivers Developed by the

Observing Professional Boundaries for Caregivers Developed by the: University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Learning Points • Identify professional boundaries for caregivers • Maintain a helpful relationship with clients • Learn how to stay in bounds • Understand why professional boundaries are important

About Professional Boundaries Guidelines for maintaining a positive and helpful relationship with clients or residents Help caregivers avoid stress and misconduct, recognize boundary crossings and provide the best possible care

Caregiver/Client Relationship • Powerful Role of the Caregiver • Zone of Helpfulness

Crossing Boundaries • • • Sharing Personal Information Not Seeing Behavior as Symptomatic Using Nicknames/Endearments Touch Unprofessional Demeanor Accepting Gifts/Favors/Tips Over-involvement Sexual Attraction/Relationships Keeping Secrets

More on Professional Boundaries • Getting Back In-Bounds • Why Professional Boundaries Are Important • Activity: Explore Boundary Crossings

Activity: Explore Boundary Crossings • What observations can you make about this situation? • How could the caregiver’s actions affect the client? • How could the situation affect the caregiver?

Learning Points Review • Identify professional boundaries for caregivers • Maintain a helpful relationship with clients • Learn how to stay in bounds • Understand why professional boundaries are important

developed by The Wisconsin Caregiver Project University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Center for Career Development (CCDET) www. uwosh. edu/ccdet/caregiver