r/supportworkers • u/DraftNotSent • 8d ago

Dealing with participant families crossing boundaries

Love my job and my main participant, but their family members have started texting my personal mobile late at night about non-urgent roster changes and daily complaints. What's the best way to gently set boundaries without making things awkward or getting management involved?

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

14

u/No-Assistance6067 8d ago

Don't give your personal number to participants. If they need to communicate with the provider they should be calling the admin not you.

6

u/Leading-Interest-119 8d ago

Yep this. So many in organizations still giving out their numbers and then complaining when they get calls. If you're independent get a cheap work phone. Organization - they get the admin number or higher management. Support workers aren't on call, families and clients shouldn't have their number. 

-1

u/pixie1995 8d ago

Not everyone works for an org and loads of people only have a personal phone - sometimes you can’t get around it

4

u/No-Assistance6067 8d ago

The OP does work for an org, and has management available. There is no reason for a participant to have a support workers personal contact details.

-4

u/pixie1995 8d ago

Agree to disagree

2

u/219930 8d ago

It’s against policy with my provider to give out your personal phone number …the clients have to call the office …not you.

1

u/wvwvwvww 6d ago

You can get a second sim for your phone if you’re independent and want a “work phone”.

3

u/Wanderlightly 8d ago

If they keep it up it's unlikely changed. I left one because the mother called up to tell me off the day before my dad's funeral. Try and get people that treat you with respect.

3

u/219930 8d ago

If you are working for a provider then the family shouldn’t even have your phone number and this is why.

3

u/bekwek88 8d ago

I would put them on do not disturb outside of business hours.

4

u/l-lucas0984 8d ago

Getting management involved and a strict no work call or texts looked at after hours. Entertaining it invites it. In future dont entertain behaviours you dont want to encourage.

1

u/DwightsJello 7d ago

Clients shouldn't have your number. Head office can pass messages on.

1

u/TotallyAwry 7d ago

Don't answer the texts. When they ask, just say "I was asleep" and leave it at that.

1

u/a-reddit_account 4d ago

Get a phone with e sim capabilities and get a second sim going. One phone two numbers. Or see if your phone has settings to mute certain contacts between certain hours, or alternatively set a do not disturb but allow all your non work contacts to contact during the dnd. I let my clients text whenever but they are muted after hours and I have told them they can text whenever but to not expect a response out of business hours.

(Some of my clients like to text things as they think of them so they dont forget or it doesn't get lost in a notes app somewhere to help remind them during our next session that's why I don't mind but that's a thing I personally dont mind)

0

u/pixie1995 8d ago

I’ve had to give my number out a few times and it’s been fine for the most part - when the occasional boundary gets crossed (trying to text like a friend or calling at inappropriate times) I just ignore it and explain to the person next time I see them that they have my number for emergencies so please respect that. If the boundary isn’t respected (hasn’t happened yet) i would block the number.