Managing Yourself in the Agency Minou Rysiew, LCSW.
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Transcript of Managing Yourself in the Agency Minou Rysiew, LCSW.
The Adventures of Blabby Blabberson
Girl, I’m so glad I caught you in the hall! You will never guess how crazy my last intake was!
Lord, this lady is really messed up! You know who I’m talking about right? Mrs. Greenleaf, yeah, that’s her leaving the lobby.
Ooops! Am I being too loud?! (Whisper) My bad. I found her old file and the last time she was in here was 2 years ago after she got a DUI. Some people
shouldn’t be allowed to be parents!
Confidentiality Issues Social Work Interns Face Ensuring that staff consultations/impromptu
supervision sessions happen in private Following agency rules about accessing
clients’ files Keeping all clients’ information private- no
matter how great the temptation to share with co-workers/friends
Not allowing clients in a group to discuss group members that aren’t present
Maintaining proper boundaries if you happen to see clients outside of the agency
Safety Issues Social Work Interns Face Making sure a supervisor or a co-worker is with
you on home visits, in certain individual and group settings
Be vigilant, mindful and aware of your surroundings- it’s okay to have personal boundaries
Learn safety and proper self-defense policies and techniques for your agency
Position yourself in the space you are in so that the client isn’t blocking your exit
It’s a good policy to avoid touching or hugging co-workers and clients so that your actions don’t get misinterpreted
Maintaining Student/ Intern/ Learner Role Staying within the realm of your expertise
keeps you and the agency safe Even if you have worked in a similar
setting- there is always more to learn Take advantage of being an intern- be on
the lookout for new learning opportunities You are there to learn- so asking questions
(at the appropriate times) is usually viewed positively
Avoiding Dual Relationships This can be tricky and difficult to avoid
in a small town- consult the NASW Code of Ethics and of course discuss the matter with your liaison and supervisor
Examine carefully the risk of exploitation or harm to the client
Check out your agencies policies about dating co-workers, NEVER date a client, and pass on a case in which you have been familiar with a client
Friendships and Working Relationships Between Student and Staff
Making friends is fine-don’t lose site of your learning plan
Try to avoid any drama
Watch out for dumpers and users
Avoiding Agency/Staff Politics Decide that Blabby Blabberson ins’t
going to be your BFF Pay off- becoming known as trustworthy
and an excellent potential employee in the future
Self Care Managing Time
Managing Anxiety
Setting healthy emotional boundaries for yourself
Utilize weekly class time with your liaison and classmates