Problem
Max is a 43 year-old man who has had unstable housing for many years and is currently staying in a short-term accommodation service for people with diagnosed mental illnesses. He was diagnosed with bipolar 1 a long time ago and, although medicated, he still has episodes of mania where he believes he is immortal. He has had ongoing issues with gambling, to the extent that he is now under a financial guardianship.
You are an accommodation support worker in the service, and your role is to support residents to develop a recovery plan, obtain longer-term housing and assess and strengthen their support networks
Whilst complying with your legal and ethical responsibilities, how would you work respectfully with Max during episodes when he believes he is immortal?
I will deal with Max calmly so that I make sure that there is no breach if I understand him, so that I can clarify his rights and stick to them and respect his privacy and confidentiality of his information in addition to treating him with respect.
Also, when dealing with Max, I have to make sure that his manic episodes are minimal, that his thoughts are stable, that he is ready for dialogue or dealing, and that I am aware of the medications he takes and their effects, in addition to the psychological treatment he receives.
Feedback from the teacher:
Some good examples, however, you need to expand more on your compliance to legal and ethical responsibilities, e.g. is it your duty of care to report any risk? What are your limitations to confidentiality here or who would you follow up with for more guidance? Please refer to your learning materials.