A young guy (aged 18) who regularly attends and sometimes volunteers at your youth centre gets employed by you in a 3 month paid position, 6 hours/week to help organise music events over the summer. He tells you that he is really keen on another young person (aged 17) at the centre and is planning on making a move at the next event.
What would you do, if anything?
I'd do nothing because he isn't a real youth worker so it's none of my business...
ReplyDeleteI believe once he is a paid employee, and even when volunteering, there is a level of responsibility and certainly a potential power imbalance that could not be ignored. When he signed on for a paid role his contract would have stipulated how he was expected to behave and I would refer him to that and basically explain why it would not be appropriate to make a move.
DeleteI would have to disagree. Even if the young person isn't a trained Youth worker whilst he is working for the organisation he would be bound by it's policies and procedures. One of which would be no relationships with clients (I hope!).
DeleteSo I would have a chat with the young man and let him know that at an event and whilst he is working for the organisation it's not ok.
It is your business to the extent that it's a client and co-worker at your service, but that doesn't mean you need to do anything.
ReplyDeleteOn the surface they are almost same age and presumably not in a professional/client relationship so there is no significant power differential at play.
Potential shades of grey if he was aware of some vulnerability that led to her using the service, but presumably the service's excellent confidentiality policy precludes that!
Wow, a whole host of issues. Code of Conduct of the service, Child Protection (is the young person 'at risk' or with DoCS), is the young man interested in a male young person (in QLD gay sex is illegal is a guy is under 18). Generally speaking, most youth services have a "zero relationship/sex" policy with clients/past clients for any staff (casual or permanent).
ReplyDeleteBeing terribly boring and extremely simplistic, its a youth service engaging young people, not a dating service. This young man risks having his Blue Card(QLD) removed, if things go wrong when he "makes his move". Protection of young people and staff mean it's a 'no go' situation.
OK, but where does it end? Would you say the same if he just volunteers? Its pretty normal to have clients volunteer at a youth centre, but they are still clients, aren't they? What if a client volunteers for just one night?
ReplyDeleteAnd re. the 17 year old girl/boy he is interested in, what is the definition of a client? Let's say the girl/boy's only contact with a service is to attend one gig - are they a client? Can they be a client if you don't know anything about them, don't even know their name?
I feel that this young man is too close to the age group that he would be working with. I wouldn't of employed him to start with.
ReplyDeleteReally? Isn't this part of the point of youth development?
Deletei have been a youth worker since i was 20, age has nothing to do with this...
DeleteThe young person is an employee AND a client. As a client, (and as someone whose role doesn't involve case management or referral or assessment/assistance to young people accessing the service)I think it would probably be cool for him to pursue the client romantically STRICTLY OUTSIDE work hours and his working environment.
ReplyDeleteIf the pair were in a relationship BEFORE he was offered the position I don't think anyone would bat an eyelid.
You'd need to have a stern convo with him about work/life boundaries and tell him exactly what is and isn't acceptable while he's on the clock, and as a representative of your company's staff while off the clock.
I agree with the last post. A discussion of exactly what you're paying him for, and what this means in presenting a professional (and safe) service for users is an important step.
ReplyDeleteHowever, outside of this, I'm not sure that we have any responsibility - I think that it is great that he felt comfortable enough to tell you in the first place!!!
This is a really complicated situation. As people have already noted, once this young person gets paid, they come under all the rules of the organisation. What this really highlights for me is that youth services need to have some detail in their Code of Conduct or Policy and Procedures that covers this type of scenario.
ReplyDeleteFrom an ethical standpoint, I see no issue with an 18 year old male being interested in a 17 year old female. As a youth worker, my response to this guy telling me this would be along the lines of my response to any young person: I'd encourage an approach that was respectful and allude to available information and resources regarding safe sex.