A recent
decision of the Discipline Committee of the Ontario College of
Social Workers and Social Service Workers is a reminder to social
workers and all regulated health professionals of the risks
inherent in flirting with or seeking to date a client - even a
client to whom they are no longer providing services.
In Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers v
Sweet, the registrant worked in the outreach housing support
program at a hospital, and attended at clients' homes to
provide services. The client was a young single mother, whom the
client assisted in developing a routine. The client also had
depression, and the registrant conducted a number of assessments
for suicidality.
The client relocated to another municipality and the registrant
concluded services. He then invited the client to become Facebook
friends, and engaged in increasingly friendly, and then
flirtatious, messaging with her. He then asked her to go out. The
client became uncomfortable and blocked the registrant. The Panel
registrant apologized to the client and discontinued his advances
after the client blocked him on social media.
The client shared this with another social worker, who made a
mandatory report to the College.
The registrant did not attend the hearing, but agreed to the facts
and admitted to engaging in professional misconduct including
sexual misconduct through behaviour or remarks of a sexual nature
with a vulnerable client. He also agreed to the penalty which
included a reprimand and revocation of his certificate of
registration.
The takeaway for professionals is not to even think of flirting
with or asking out a client or even a former client. In this case,
even though the social worker - client relationship had concluded
before the registrant asked the client out, the panel found that
the patient/service provider dynamic was still intact. The panel
found that this constituted a grave boundary violation and an abuse
of the registrant's position of trust and authority.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.