Finland: National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health
 
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 1999 15:45:17
To: "California InterNetwork of Mental Health Clients"
  <cinmhc@lyris.peoplewho.net> 
From: "Maria Maceira" <mariaem@jps.net>
Subject: [cinmhc] "On the job treatment" 

***I want to thank those of you that have
already responded.***

I am participating in a work group where we are
developing a process for hiring consumers
as staff.

I have had a frustrating time trying to get some of the work
group members to separate work issues from mental health
issues in the workplace.

We keep getting stuck on the issues around "on the job
treatment". Wanting to be able to treat and help while
on the job.

What would be your response to these questions?

What resources could you refer me to that would know
the answers to these questions?

Legal advice, web links, articles, or any other information
would be welcomed.

Staff believes that volunteers of our Mental Health system
do not have the same protections as a paid employee (they
may be right) and anything goes.  They are willing to write
policy to protect volunteers but I just don't feel comfortable
with this lack of protection.  Especially since many clients
volunteer rather than take a paid positions.

Any feedback would be appreciated!

sincerely,

Maria Maceira

  1. Can a volunteer, stipend/intern, or employee of Mental Health be asked to sign a back to work agreement after a "relapse" (addiction or mental illness) before being able to return to work? 
  2. Can a perspective volunteer, stipend/intern, or employee of Mental Health be denied a volunteer, intern/stipend or paid position if they are not in "recovery" (addiction or mental illness)? or....Asked to have a certain amount of "clean time or recovery time" before being able to work in one of these capacities? 
  3. Can a supervisor mention or ask a volunteer, stipend/intern, or employee of Mental Health whether they are a client or if they are feeling mentally ill? Can my supervisor also "treat or help" me with my mental illness or addiction while I am on the job without my consent? 
  4. Can a volunteer, intern/stipend or employee of Mental Health be barred from work if they have a history of substance abuse or mental illness? 
  5. Who is the person that decides whether a volunteer, stipend/intern, or employee of Mental Health has the capacity to return to work after a brief illness? My supervisor.....my doctor? 
  6. Can the Department of Mental Health require that all non consumer staff refrain from drinking alcohol with consumer staff after working hours?

Here is more about "on the job treatment": Is it the role of the supervisor to provide treatment of an employee if the supervisor perceives that the employee is in need of some kind of "treatment" based on some kind of "diagnosis" by the employer on the job? Should the code of ethics of the Department of Mental Health preclude a supervisor of an employee who has a mental illness from providing treatment when such treatment is not asked for? The code of ethics should specifically say that there is a distinct and separate role of supervisor. The helping or "therapy" should only come from that person's therapist, physician, or other provider. The supervisor is just a supervisor, not to be confused as a "provider" of a vocationally oriented mental health service.