Dual-role relationships are a very important topic in the social working area since they can affect both sides: the specialist and the client. Still, the social worker is more susceptible to the situations when such relationships occur; they can have ethical dilemmas. Where a dual or multiple relationship exists, social workers are responsible for ensuring that appropriate boundaries are established and maintained and that the social worker-client relationship is safeguarded. (Newfoundland and Labrador association of social workers, 2018). Thus, any social worker has to know how to act properly in the situation of a dual relationship.
In the suggested scenario, I find myself in the situation of a dual-role relationship as a mental health agency worker. Being a friend of someone whose child is asking for professional help means being a good friend and a professional at the same time. Social workers should not engage in the dual relationship; however, in this case, it is unavoidable. Since social workers have to act in the best interests of their clients, and it is mandatory, I would be on the side of the 15 years-old boy. In this situation, I choose to be a professional, not a friend. According to Sawyer and Prescott (2011), “there is a fundamental need for psychological and physical safety for clients receiving mental health services.” The boy struggles with depression and addiction, which require medical help for his mental and physical health.
It does not seem difficult to simply ignore other facts and continue following instructions, as usual. However, I understand that the human factor plays its part in the dual relationship situation. Knowing that the boy on the line is a son of a friend, and, perhaps, even personal familiarity with the boy, indirect or actual, creates the dilemma. It is also necessary to notify the client’s parents about his problem in order to help the whole family as a friend (Gonyea et al., 2014). Nevertheless, such personal information should not be shared with anyone else without the permission of the client. Still, social workers’ ethics do not allow to ask clients for permission to tell their information to someone else, as it would be incompetent (Daley & Hickman, 2011). Besides, incorrect actions in this situation also question the worker’s personality and authority. Thus, telling my friend information about his/her son with permission is almost not possible in this situation (unless the boy asks for it himself). Of course, telling them without his consent would be a total violation of privacy and ethics rules.
As for the solution to readdress the boy to another mental health agency, I suppose that it might be the right way since it would be an act to avoid a dual relationship situation. However, I also think that it is a risky way, looking from the client’s perspective. If the boy calls at the hotline, asking for mental health, he needs help immediately, in the moment of calling; it can even be an emergency call. In this case, another agency is located 30 miles away. In any case, the boy expects help from me since I am the worker who answered. If I tell the boy that I will readdress his call to another agency, he most likely would not understand the reason. It would be a strange and confusing situation for the boy, which can cause anxiety. Such a situation would also be a violation of the social workers’ code of ethics. Eventually, I think that the correct way would be to keep providing services to the boy as a client regardless of personal relations with his parents. This action will satisfy the professional requirements, including ethics, and benefit the client.
References
Daley, M. R. & Hickman, S. (2011). Dual relations and beyond: Understanding and addressing ethical challenges for rural social work. Journal of social work, values and ethics, 8, pp. 35-57.
Gonyea, J., Wright, D., & Earl-Kulkosky, T. (2014). Navigating dual relationships in rural communities. Journal of Martial and Family Therapy, 40(1), pp. 125–136.
Newfoundland and Labrador association of social workers. (2018). Ethical Compass, 3.
Sawyer, S., & Prescott, D. (2011). Boundaries and dual relationships. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 23(3), pp. 365-380.