| TOPIC | Professional Boundaries Policy | ||
| Area | Service Delivery | TYPE | Procedure |
1. Purpose
Professional boundaries are integral to the relationship between providers and users of the app and their family, carer, and external stakeholders. A clearly defined approach promotes professionalism, accountability, mutual respect, and excellence in our dealings with each other and with clients and members of the community. The policy applies at any place where a provider attends for the purpose of carrying out a booking and in relation to their profession.
Professional boundary violations are unethical and unprofessional because they exploit the professional relationship, undermine the trust clients/participants, their families and the community have in professional services, and can cause profound psychological harm to clients/participants and compromise their ongoing wellbeing.
Professional boundaries are limits which protect the space between the professional power of providers and the clients/participants’ vulnerability.
2. Scope
The purpose of this policy is to provide an outline of the professional boundaries expected of all mobility app providers.
3. Policy
All providers are individually responsible for applying and maintaining appropriate professional boundaries in their day-to-day work and work within the professional boundaries in their relationships with clients/participants, families, carers, and external stakeholders. In addition, providers are required to raise any associated concerns or issues as per the mobility code of conduct policy. Providers have an ethical obligation to clients/participants and their families to practice within their scope of practice, professional guidelines and codes of conduct, and the mobility code of conduct.
Mobility considers that there is an inbuilt vulnerability in any client/worker relationship due to the imbalance of power inherent in any therapeutic relationship. Whilst it is recognised that mobility providers must establish a rapport with client/participant and provide safe, friendly, and accessible services, providers are responsible for establishing and maintaining appropriate professional boundaries between themselves and clients/participants.
It is essential that appropriate boundaries are in place between providers and clients/participants as defined in the code of conduct section:
2.10 Professional Boundaries
3.2 Care and Competency
5.4 Professionalism and outlined in the following:
Providers are to visit clients/participants at home only on work related business which is documented in their booking
- Providers are not to invite mobility clients/participants to their homes
- Providers need to declare to mobility if there is a pre-existing social relationship (acquaintance, friend, relative etc) with a client/participant
- Providers are not to lend any money, alcohol or cigarettes to clients/participants
- Not accept gifts or gratitude from clients/participants and their families that intentionally or unintentionally have the potential to influence or impact the service delivery to that client/participant
- Providers will not develop a romantic, sexual, or other intimate relationship with a client/participant
- Providers will not practice outside their scope of practice.
Provider Responsibilities if there is a Breach or Potential Breach of Professional Boundaries
Where a provider thinks there is a potential breakdown of their own professional boundaries, the provider must immediately notify mobility and notify their professional standards regulatory body (e.g. APHRA).
4. Breach of policy/procedure
Where a provider is in breach of this policy or the mobility code of conduct, we may, as per the terms and services agreement terminate and/or suspend your account.
5. Related Documents
6.1 Internal Documents
- Clinical Governance framework
- Dignity of Risk and Duty of Care Procedure
- Model of Care
- Open disclosure procedure
- Model of Care
- Personal Support Workers Procedure
6.2 External Documents
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Rules 2018.
- Worksafe – state and territories
- Aged Care Act 1997
- Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth), User Rights Amendment (Charter of Aged Care Rights) Principles 2019
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Rules 2018.
- Australian Privacy Principles 2014
- Charter of Aged Care Rights
- Quality of Care Principles 2014
- User Rights Principles 2014
Document History
Reviewed by: Clinical and Risk Specialist
Authorised by: CEO
Date Adopted: March 2021
Next Review Due: April 2023
Version Control
| Version | Date | Change |
| 1 | 1/3/21 | New |