Socializing with clients?

Socializing with clients?The State of CT's Dept. of Mental Health has a policy that prohibits employees from socializing with DMHAS clients outside fo work. On the other hand, there is a movement to hire more peopel in recovery to work within the system.

I know a case where an employee was reprimanded for socializing with a client outside of work hours. The person she was visiting has been a friend for years (prior to working).

Does this policy have merit? Should the prior relationship supersede the policy?

Answer by balletdncr
Honestly I work in real estate and I would never hang out with a client outside of our transactions together. I would rather have a seperate part of my personl life for them not to know. Does that make sense.

Answer by Hurricane77
Social relationships with clients comes up as an issue for lots of professionals.

Without seeing the policy, I'd still assume that it is designed to protect the client from waiving any confidentiality or privacy privileges unknowingly. So the overall intent of the policy probably does have merit, or at least good intentions behind it.

The question is whether it is too broad in scope: are these people getting limited help,or are they patients for years?

In the case you mentioned, and for others, where a prior relationship existed before the person was a patient at DMHAS, the general rule should probably be that any individuals who are DMHAS employees should not work on cases where someone they have a pre-existing social/personal relationship with is the patient.

For all others, since you already know that socializing is prohibited, wait until after the person is no longer a patient prior to striking up a friendship.

Good luck.

Answer by female O
Socializing with clients is unprofessional on any level.

Answer by Christy
If the individual knew the client prior to working with the client, the worker should have stepped aside from the case as it was a conflict of interest. If instances arise like the one you discussed, inform your supervisor that you know the client outside of the work setting and let the supervisor make the ultimate decision.

This policy does definitely have merit. Refer to your profession's code of ethics as this type of situation is always covered in great detail by the code.

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