Managing Yourself in the Agency
Minou Rysiew, LCSW
Confidentiality
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
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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 coworkers/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 Awareness
Safety Issues Social Work
Interns Face
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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 surroundingsit’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 coworkers and clients so that your actions don’t get
misinterpreted
Maintaining Student/ Intern/
Learner Role
Maintaining Student/ Intern/
Learner Role
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Staying within the realm of your expertise
keeps you and the agency safe
Even if you have worked in a similar settingthere 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
Avoiding Dual Relationships
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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
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Making friends is finedon’t lose site of your
learning plan
Try to avoid any drama
Watch out for dumpers
and users
Avoiding Agency/Staff Politics
Avoiding Agency/Staff Politics
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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
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Managing Time
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Managing Anxiety
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Setting healthy emotional boundaries for
yourself
Utilize weekly class time with your liaison and
classmates
Good Luck!