Should I come clean - work related?

[Cocacolachick]

I work in healthcare and it’s just me and my boss privately - I have posted before. I am currently working my notice as my boss has been awful.

I saw a client for an assessment last week. After the assessment the parent said I was fantastic and that they really want to see me. Bit of an odd question, they asked if it would be through my company or just through me. I said it’d be through the company but I let them know I am leaving in 6 weeks.

They said “so technically you can see us after? And you can steal (child) as your own?” And I laughed like “technically yes”. I explained I’d need to check my contract but it’d be likely this would have to be after I’ve left this job. I said I might be going private so would be able to visit at a similar rate. I don’t really know why I said this, one of the parents was kinda scary and I panicked. I also said “don’t mention anything” for some reason. They said they want me to do home visits in 6 weeks time, and I said I’d contact and let them know.

Now I’m really nervous. I can’t contact them through my work email in case my boss sees, and I can’t contact them directly by myself in case of GDPR.
I did email on my work email to say “sorry I can’t see you right now; you’re welcome to see me here for 6 weeks” they said no and they’ll wait, and can they book in a home visit with me in 6 weeks please. I panicked and deleted the emails???

One of the parents was quite scary and I’m nervous that he will call the company phone and ask what’s going on. So I really don’t know what to do. As I haven’t technically broken my contract, and haven’t acted on this, I thought I might just explain this to my boss so that if she gets a call I don’t get reaaaaally in trouble.

So what do I do?? I realise I’ve been dumb and dug myself a hole here.

I've read a few of your posts. I wouldn't speak to your boss about it at all. If you say anything but the parent doesn't you'll have shot yourself in the foot, and give her cause to make your last few weeks even worse. If the parent says something you can just say you let people know you are leaving and they misunderstood, it's allowed.

Double and triple check your contract to see if you re restricted about whether you can take on existing clients for a certain period after you leave.

No mention then good to go and take as many clients as you can(don't directly approach them about having them as clients before you leave, but let them know you are leaving and are they happy for you to take a note of all their contact details for later(keep the GDPR freaks happy).

Good job getting out of this role and good luck for the future.

Thank you that’s really helpful. Thing is I’m going to be constantly worried about her finding out which will be horrible. Also I know there’s a chance the parents will contact her, and I think I’ll have put my foot in it a lot more if I haven’t pre warned her if that makes sense

if the family phone up just shrug and say “no idea, i did tell them i was leaving then, perhaps they thought i could come anyway? They must have got the wrong end of the stick.” Then get on with what you were doing. You aren’t responsible for other people’s decision to phone.
read your contract for non-compete and non-poaching clauses. If it has nothing, it’s none of her business what you do after you leave. If it does, stick to the terms, but these are unlikely to last longer than xxx months, and after that you can do what you want.
if you want this family as private clients (it doesn’t really sound like you do), send a letter once you’ve left with your contact details and rates. If you don’t, move on to something that doesn’t make you feel scared or anxious.

I’d probably keep quiet and if the client says anything brush it off as a misunderstanding. But avoid this conversation in future, don’t poach clients it is asking for trouble, find your own.

Thank you guys!

Check your contract. As long as there are no restrictions, its not poaching.

The family are quite entitled to approach you to work for them.

If it happens again with another family, write down your mobile for them and ask them to contact you in 6 weeks.