Identify and respond to children and young people at risk - NSW ...

and acknowledges their humanity. . Set and maintain clear boundaries of
acceptable and professional interactions when working with older children and
young people. This means taking care that your relationship cannot be
interpreted by the child, young person or an outsider as based on a personal
rather than professional interest.
Confidentiality – information about a child, young person or their family/carer is
kept private and only shared according to legal and organisational directions.
Transparency – maintaining clarity with the family about the requirements of
the work that the worker is responsible for undertaking. This may mean
balancing hopefulness about the potential of family members with recognition of
the issues that they are facing, and the likely consequences if change cannot be
achieved or if organisational expectations (for example maintaining a safe
workplace) are not respected. It also involves being clear about what the
worker and organisation can and can’t offer.
Consistency – Being trustworthy, reliable and predictable so as much as
possible the child, young person, family and/or carer know what to expect,
including that any commitments made will be followed through.
Focus on client need – The objective is to address the needs of the child, young
person, family and/or carer, not to prioritise their own needs to be liked, or to
be recognised. It also means an obligation to provide services even where there
may be issues in engaging children, young persons, family and/or carers, while
recognising workplace obligations and polices regarding a safe workplace.
Maintaining professional boundaries requires an awareness of the worker’s own
values and beliefs, as distinct from those of the client.
4. If participants refer to challenges in maintaining professional
boundaries in relation to child focused practice, acknowledge
these, and note that there will be more discussion of ethical
issues later in the day.
2.4. Duty of care
These concepts are summarised for participants in
Handout 5: Maintaining professional boundaries.
1. Explain the concept of duty of care, drawing attention to Handout
6: Duty of care when working with children, young people and
families.
Duty of care applies to a range of situations and can be briefly
described as the obligation that a sensible person would have in the
circumstances when acting toward others and the public. It is
important to see duty of care not only as steps taking to avoid
litigation, but as a framework for good practice.
2. Explain that there is a high degree of care owed to children
because of their vulnerability.
Keep Them Safe CHCCHILD401A – Facilitator’s Manual
© The NSW Technical and Further Education Commission
(TAFE NSW – Industry Skills Unit, Meadowbank, 2010)
18