What not to do in a conflict

Description

During a detox program, we overhear our client, Jane Doe, speaking on the phone with a friend. Jane Doe sounds distressed as she describes her roommate was arrested for illegal possession of drugs in their shared apartment. You are aware of Jane Doe’s illegal drug use but recently became clean. You are also aware that Jane Doe lives with her three-year-old daughter, Joanne Doe. In addition to this, Jane Doe has a history of fabricating stories, and not being honest with authority figures as well as caseworkers due to previous trauma. As caseworkers, we are not sure if Jane Doe is using drugs and if Joanne Doe is at any risk. Half of the team wants to take immediate action as Jane Doe is a “high risk” patient, and because her daughter is a minor, she will be at a greater risk. However, the other half of the team would rather speak with Jane Doe and find out what the actual situation is to take informed actions. The conflict surrounds the interdisciplinary team, and they should proceed in a situation such as this one.