NASW Code of Ethics
How many values are cited in the NASW Code of Ethics?
Six
In professional settings, social workers have an ethical responsibility to both clients and ____. (*hint: standard 2 of the NASW Code of Ethics)
colleagues
Respecting a client's culture, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, etc. all relates to which social work value?
preferred answer: Dignity and worth of the person
accepted answer: Importance of human relationships
True or false: a journalist can act as a whistleblower about issues outside of their own organization.
False
True or False: the importance of self care is referenced in the NASW Code of Ethics.
True
A client of yours asks if you would like to become a co-investor in their startup. Why would this would be considered an ethical violation?
Accepted answers: dual relationship or conflict of interest
What does ICT stand for (*hint: this relates to use of technology with clients)
Information and Communication Technologies
True or false: if you disagree with a client's beliefs or decisions, you should let them know.
False
What are 4 possible outcomes of an unethical organization?
staff burnout/turnover, missed clients, harmed clients, loss of funding for services
If social workers implement healthy ___ in their professional and personal relationships, they can prevent burnout.
boundaries
You are certified in many therapy modalities such as CBT, DBT, and ACT. You are referred and accept a client who needs EMDR therapy, a modality you are not certified in. What ethical responsibility is being violated?
Acceptable answers: competence, misrepresentation, or dishonesty, fraud, and deception.
intuition
Define and explain informed consent
Must provide enough information to the clients about the potential risks and potential benefits of each option
Clients must be deemed competent to provide consent
Clients must provide consent voluntarily and without coercion (be it reward/consequence coercion)
It must be made clear to clients that they can refuse or withdraw consent at any point if they so choose
What is currently in place to address discrimination in employment practices? Is the NASW in favor of this?
Affirmative Action, yes.
Provide an example of ethical self-disclosure and unethical disclosure.
Ethical: appropriate self-disclosure, related to the client and is meant to help/validate the client
Unethical: self-involving self disclosure, more for your benefit than the client's, directs the focus away from the client and onto you
You discover that a colleague of yours is acting in an unethical way. What are the steps you should take? (*hint: there are 3)
1. Address the concern with your colleague directly and give them a chance to resolve the issue.
2. If the issue persists, address with your supervisor.
3. If needed, take action through appropriate formal channels such as a state licensing board, the NASW, or a different professional ethics committee.
Explain the difference between formal ICTs, formal blended ICTs, and informal intersession ICTs.
formal: Provide services exclusively through a technology-based platform. Examples include e-counseling, telepsychology, and telepsychiatry
formal blended:Combine structured in-person and technology services
informal intersession: Range from practical (scheduling) to complex (discussing crisis-level topics or providing updates on serious incidents/events)
As social workers, you are mandated reporters. Under what circumstances are you legally obligated to break confidentiality?
1. If the client is a danger to themselves.
2. If the client is a danger to others.
3. If someone is harming the clients (DCS hotline, APS hotline, or PD report)
Name and explain the micro-level contributors to an unethical organization
slippery slope: an idea or course of action which will lead to something unacceptable, wrong, or disastrous.
ethical fading: occurs when the ethical aspects of a decision disappear from view. This happens when people focus heavily on some other aspect of a decision, such as profitability or winning.
role morality: the notion that people sometimes fail to live up to their own ethical standards because they see themselves as playing a certain role that excuses them from those standards.
fundamental attribution error: The tendency to attribute people’s actions to their character rather than to situation factors; whereas we attribute our own actions more to the situation.
Provide examples of both individual and organizational self care.
Accepted answers:
Individual:
Physical
Emotional
Social
Spiritual
Personal
Space
Work
Financial
Organizational:
Realistic goals (adjusting productivity)
Encouraging coffee/lunch breaks
Promoting rest and relaxation
Support (concrete or emotional)
Agency culture that addresses stigma and acknowledges the existence of burnout
Name and define each of the NASW values included in the Code of Ethics
Service: Social Workers' primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems.
Social Justice: Social workers challenge social injustice.
Dignity and Worth of the person: Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person.
Importance of human relationships: Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships.
Integrity: Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner.
Competence: Social workers practice within their areas of competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise.
Name and explain in detail one of the ethical decision making models discussed in class.
Accepted answers:
1. Dolgoff, Loewenberg and Harrington’s approach
Cannot just use a step-by-step process
Refer to NASW Code and then go by the hierarchy of values
2. Reamer’s Approach
1. DETERMINE whether there is an ethical issue or/and dilemma.
2. IDENTIFY the key values and principles involved.
3. RANK the values or ethical principles which - in your professional judgment - are most relevant to the issue or dilemma.
4. DEVELOP an action plan that is consistent with the ethical priorities that have been determined as central to the dilemma.
5. IMPLEMENT your plan, utilizing the most appropriate practice skills and competencies.
6. REFLECT on the outcome of this ethical decision making process.
3. Congress ETHIC Model of Decision Making
E – Evaluate relevant personal, societal, agency, client and professional values
T – Think about what ethical standard of the NASW Code of Ethics applies, as well as relevant laws and case decisions
H – Hypothesize about possible consequences of different decisions
I - Identify who will benefit and who will be harmed in view of social work’s commitment to the most vulnerable
C – Consult with supervisor and colleagues about the most ethical choice
What are the 3 types of advanced directives in the state of Arizona? (*hint: found in specific populations PPT)
1. Medical Power of Attorney
2. Living Will Declaration
3. Pre-Hospital Medical Care Directive (DNR)
Environment, transportation, employment, housing, healthcare, criminal justice + details.
Explain the difference between burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma.
Burnout: job-related stress occurring over time that results in emotional exhaustion (feelings of being overwhelmed and worn out), cynicism (having become irritable, lost idealism, and withdrawn) and inefficacy (feelings of incompetence, lack of achievement and inability to cope)
Compassion fatigue: condition characterized by emotional and physical exhaustion leading to a diminished ability to empathize or feel compassion for others, often described as the negative cost of caring.
Vicarious trauma: indirect exposure to a traumatic event through first-hand account or narrative of that event. Symptoms often mirror PTSD.