Question

Disciplinary Measures

The appropriate disciplinary actions needed are not always apparent to those involved. That is one reason your textbook will be a wonderful reference book and a great start to your professional library. The manager who wants to be fair and just is one who gives great thought before administering discipline.

After completing the reading, respond to each of the scenarios below.

A. June Skinner is an assistant social worker at Valley Cancer Treatment Center, where you are Director of Social Work (DSW). Barb Simmons, Senior Social Worker, was not back from lunch and so June was given a phone call pertaining to one of Barb’s patients. Being inexperienced, June unintentionally shared information about a patient, Debbie Fox, over the phone with someone who was not authorized to be given medical information about Ms. Fox. That person was the patient’s ex-husband. He told June that he was Debbie’s father (who was on the list of people who could get information about Ms. Fox). Now the ex-husband is going to use the information against the patient in a child custody hearing. You, as DSW must deal with this situation and decide on the proper course of action. Describe the conflict situation using theories and key terms from your reading. In your response, also provide a course of action and justification for doing so.

B. You are the Food Services Director of St. Regis Hospital with a staff of 135 employees. The Senior Staff Dietician, Joe Smith, was dismissed on charges of embezzlement. The problem is, Mr. Smith had been with St. Regis for over 30 years, and was well loved by the food services staff. Since his departure, morale of the department has sharply declined. Explain your plan for using leadership skills to raise department morale and foster teamwork.

Answer 1

ANSWER A :-

1. Being a Director of Social Work, it is my prior responsibility to identify the situation at first and then carry out an action. June Skinner has disclosed information about the patient Debbie Fox to her ex-husband who portrayed himself to be Debbie's father. The role reason behind this might be the inexperience of June in handling the situation although she should have been aware of the Corporate Confidentiality Policy (Social workers) which in turn gives priority to Confidentiality in terms of disclosure of personal information, details or records of admission, etc.
2. As June have not followed the regulations even though she was aware of it, this become my prior responsibility to remove her from her position.
3. Confidentiality plays a vital role in strengthening the bond of trust and helps in effective communication between the associated social worker, doctor, etc and the patient. Although in this case, as the information has been disclosed to the ex-husband of the patient, which would be used by him during court trials for child custody will give him a forehand for the case. This has been done in the absence of consent from the patient and thus needs disciplinary action to be taken.
4. According to the General Medical Council, it is considered important to protect and respect the right of the patient to confidentiality. In this case, it has already been mentioned that Debbie's father was on the list of the persons who could get information about the patient. Although, being a Social worker, June should have enquired more about the person or should have cross-checked. She should have stated that she would call back the person to check whether he was the legitimate being or not. This would have granted a clarification about the identity of the person enquiring about the patient.
5. June should have discussed the situation by communicating with her fellowpersons or directly to Barb Simmons who was her senior. Although, it was also his responsibility to make her aware of such instances through his experiances but being a Social worker, the core buildup of principles and regulations should be preferred by the worker while dealing with such a situation which was totally lacking in the scenario mentioned above. This would definitely affect the ease of communication with the patient along with trust. According to the NASW Code of ethics standard 1.03[a-f], the patient's consent is important while disclosing information which was readily followed according to the list mentioned regarding the persons who were meant to be provided with information and NASW Code of ethics standard 1.07[a-r], which prioritizes the confidentiality of the patient. So, abiding by the laws, June should be removed from her position of Assistant Social worker.

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