Opinion on staff befriending clients on Facebook

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When my agency wrote it's Employee Handbook, Facebook probably didn't exist. In our Code of Ethics it clearly states that employees not share personal information, religious/political beliefs, phone numbers, etc with their patients. A recent issue came up prompting me to check out a few of my employees who are foolish enough not to use privacy settings on Facebook. I see that several of them have our clients as 'friends' on Facebook. I'm not talking about employees who are wise about what they post on Facebook. Some of my HHA's are on there talking about their partying, sexual preferences, and other personal information that I, as their Supervisor would rather our clients not know.

Has anyone else had issues with this? Any thoughts?

Kyasi

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I would first see that your facility adopts a policy. Then I would call all employees in and have them sign for a copy of the new policy. At that time you could have a little chat about propriety with those who need it.

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Getting them to update/change a policy is not easily done. I'm just now making 'the powers that be' aware that this is an issue. My immediate boss isn't familiar with Facebook so she doesn't even understand the extent of what people share there. I plan to bring it up at our next Advisory Board meeting when all the people who can bring about this change will be there. In the meantime, I just wondered if anyone else is having an issue with this.

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Not cool. Not cool at all.

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OP, what ever came out of this? I'm curious to know because I totally agree with you.

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The advisory board meeting isn't for several months. I did talk to my clinical director and they all agree that befriending a patient is against our code of ethics. But getting employees to comply is a totally different issue. If they password protect their accounts, nobody will ever know.

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