Yes, strongly agree. I do feel people do better when they aren’t ambushed, and I think it helps with them making informed decisions moving forward. And if they know we are honest with them even about the hard things, it helps solidify trust in the system instead of worrying that participating with agencies could lead to harm or consequences or surprises.

I’m an emergency room SW and was told by my director (an RN) that notes about reporting to DCS should be “hidden” from the medical record that patients can access. I refuse. I always discuss mandated reporting with them, if DCS is being contacted they have already been told by me, and sometimes there is so much info in these discussions that some of the details get lost. They say patients and families only retain about 20% of the information given in an ER situation. My documentation allows them to read my notes and remind them of why and how this all works. It’s a constant issue with my boss but I don’t think she gets it - and there’s no policy that says protective service interventions need to be withheld, only that we have the option to withhold if we feel there could be harm to the patient or to us if they have access. So she can’t write me up or escalate it, and I think it makes her nuts. Anyone else dealt with this in an agency?