Question

Patrick is the primary carer for Sebastian, a young man who has complex care needs which are extremely time consuming. He needs full time supervision, medication management and must be turned in bed several times a night. Pahalk is a family support worker who initially created an individual support plan for Sebastian and now provides ongoing support to the family. Patrick meets with Pahalk to talk about how the family is coping at present. Patrick tells Pahalk that he is finding the caring responsibilities challenging and that sometimes he gets very cross and angry. He explains that there have been times when he has left Sebastian unattended to go to the pub nearby and play the pokies. He explains that he does not gamble a lot but that it just gives him a short break and some relief from the demands of caring. Pahalk asks what happens when he feels angry at home and Patrick tells him that one day last week he had found himself thinking about hurting Sebastian. He did not hurt Sebastian, but felt extremely ashamed of himself afterwards for even considering it. Patrick then breaks down and tells Pahalk that he is worried about whether he should continue caring for Sebastian at all. Pahalk provides care and reassurance and asks Patrick if he thinks it is still a possibility that he might try to harm Sebastian. Patrick tells Pahalk that he is worried every day that he might do something bad to Sebastian and that he does not know what to do. He asks Pahalk to promise not to tell anyone about what he has said.

1. How should Pahalk respect the confidentiality and privacy of Sebastian and Patrick?

2. What are Pahalk’s legal and ethical obligations with regard to confidentiality and disclosure of information in this situation?

3. What services could Pahalk have suggested to Patrick prior to this situation developing that might have helped him maintain his care relationship with Sebastian more effectively?

4. What are the issues that may impact on Patrick’s physical and emotional health and wellbeing?

5. Outline Pahalk’s legal and ethical obligations with regard to their work role boundaries and limitations in this situation.

6. What information could Pahalk give to Patrick and the family about carer support services?

7. Give two examples of carer support organisations and resources that Pahalk could provide to Patrick and the family.

Answer 1

1. How should Pahalk respect the confidentiality and privacy of Sebastian and Patrick?

Pahalk should help Patrick understand the role of services in improving the health and quality of life for the patient .He also should educate the family regularly that they should engage in duties with care giver for giving effective care to Sebastian. Patrick 's activity was complex which led to his thoughts of harming Sebastian.

Pahalk should change Patrick and engage another caregiver as a preventive measure to omit any unfavourable situation in future because Patrick had ideas of harming Sebastian.In future there are risk of possible abuse, neglect and poor treatment.

2. What are Pahalk’s legal and ethical obligations with regard to confidentiality and disclosure of information in this situation? Outline Pahalk’s legal and ethical obligations with regard to their work role boundaries and limitations in this situation.

Pahalk have an ethical obligation to disclose in situations that involve a substantial risk of significant harm to the health or safety of the client . In these situations, social workers use a process of ethical decision-making before disclosing confidential information.In cases where disclosure of confidential information is necessary, restrict the amount of information disclosed and the number of people informed to the minimum necessary to fulfill the legal and ethical obligations.

But this should be reported to the physician or higher authority of family support worker.

3. What services could Pahalk have suggested to Patrick prior to this situation developing that might have helped him maintain his care relationship with Sebastian more effectively?

Pahalk should have given adaptive counselling to Patrick about patient, his needs, his family and about the care to be given. Patrick should have been given training for handling a patient who needs complex care and relaxation techniques to maintain patience if there was problems in caregiving . Patrick should be told that he could have informed Pahalk about his stressing work.

4. What are the issues that may impact on Patrick’s physical and emotional health and wellbeing?F the For Patrick care was complex, more energy draining and there was no breaks for relaxing and moreover he was frustrated.

It may have made him stressed, depressed, tired and also he may have body aches . He may be emotional as there was none to help him during caring Sebastian.

6. What information could Pahalk give to Patrick and the family about carer support services?

These can provide practical, financial, and emotional support through services such as respite care, training, and peer support.Respite care is a form of support for carers. It gives you the opportunity to have a break from your caring role for a few hours or days or for longer periods.  Being involved in the more intimate aspects of care such as administering medications, personal hygiene, bathing, grooming and skin care are also common tasks of family members and carers.So the family should involve while giving care to Sebastian.

7. Give two examples of carer support organisations and resources that Pahalk could provide to Patrick and the family.

Carer support groups, National carer counselling programmes.