Clear boundaries ensure a safe working environment and high quality of care
Therapy and Coaching offered under Unmind Talk is also available to Unmind staff members. We believe we are providing a best-in-class service, and we want to ensure that Unmind staff members can benefit from the service and support too.
Unmind has taken steps to ensure that the small number of Unmind staff members who work in close contact with Unmind Practitioners have access to alternative services outside of Unmind Talk to ensure that both practitioners and Unmind staff can uphold professional boundaries at all times and avoid significant dual relationships.
Given that Unmind staff members may book sessions with practitioners, it is crucial to maintain clear boundaries to ensure ethical practice, confidentiality, and the integrity of professional relationships.
This policy applies to all practitioners providing services through Unmind and all Unmind staff members, including those who may seek services from practitioners.
Practitioners and staff must uphold professionalism at all times
- Professional boundaries: Practitioners must maintain a professional relationship with all Unmind staff members, regardless of whether or not they are engaged with therapy/coaching with them.
- Dual relationships: Practitioners should avoid dual relationships with Unmind staff members that could impair their objectivity, professionalism, or effectiveness in providing mental health services, e.g. via social media contact.
- Confidentiality: Practitioners must adhere to strict confidentiality standards in all interactions with Unmind staff members, particularly when an Unmind staff member is also a client. The practitioner must ensure that no confidential information about the Unmind staff member is disclosed to other platform employees or external parties, except as required by law.
- Non-Discrimination: Practitioners must provide the same level of care and professionalism to Unmind staff members who book sessions as they do to any other client, without bias or preferential treatment.
Boundaries defined in this policy include interactions within and outside of Unmind
Session Bookings by staff members:
- Unmind staff members who wish to book sessions with practitioners must follow the same procedures as any other client.
- Practitioners have the right to accept or decline a session with an Unmind staff member if they believe a conflict of interest exists, or if they feel that the dual relationship may impact the quality of care.
- Practitioners should notify Unmind Support if they feel uncomfortable or if they perceive a conflict of interest in treating an Unmind staff member.
- Practitioners must not discuss their work on Unmind during their sessions with an Unmind staff member.
Communication with staff members:
- All communication between practitioners and Unmind staff members, especially those who are clients, should be kept within the professional context. Practitioners should not engage in informal, non-work-related communication with Unmind staff members who are their clients.
- Communication should primarily occur through Unmind’s support channels to maintain professionalism and confidentiality. Practitioners should not reach out to individual Unmind staff members for support on the platform outside of these channels unless directed to do so.
Social media and personal contact with staff members:
- Practitioners should not engage with Unmind staff members on social media platforms, unless contacted by an Unmind staff member for recruitment purposes (e.g. via LinkedIn or WhatsApp).
- Practitioners must not exchange personal contact information with Unmind staff members unless it is necessary for professional purposes and within the guidelines of the platform.
Reporting conflicts of interest:
- If a practitioner identifies a potential conflict of interest in their relationship with an Unmind staff member, they must report this to Unmind Support immediately. The support team will assess the situation and decide on appropriate actions, which may include reassigning the staff member to another practitioner.
Handling Complaints and Concerns
- Complaints by practitioners: If a practitioner feels that an Unmind staff member is acting in a way that compromises their professional boundaries, they should report this to Unmind Support. The team will address the issue in a confidential manner, ensuring that the practitioner's concerns are taken seriously and appropriately managed according to our complaints policy.
- Complaints by staff members: If an Unmind staff member who is also a client has concerns about their treatment by a practitioner, they should report these concerns through Unmind’s established complaint procedures. These complaints will be handled with the same level of confidentiality and professionalism as complaints from any other user according to our complaints policy.
Consequences for Policy Violations
Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to termination of the practitioner’s contract with Unmind. The specific consequences will depend on the severity of the violation and the impact on the professional relationship.
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