General
A social workers primary source for ethics
NASW Code of Ethics
Fundamental guidelines and beliefs that shape professional practice and ethical decision-making
Principles
A social worker is working with a family where one child has been diagnosed with a developmental disability. The social worker emphasizes the importance of family involvement in the child’s care and helps the parents and siblings strengthen their communication and support for each other. What principle is the social worker upholding?
Importance of Human Relationships - Recognizing the role that relationships, including those within families, play in promoting healing and growth.
Confidentiality may be breached if the client...
Is at risk of harming self or others, child is being abused or neglected, or the elderly is being abused
Social workers must maintain these types of boundaries to ensure the professional relationship remains focused on the client’s needs.
Professional boundaries
A social worker who discriminates against a client based on their race, gender, or socioeconomic status is violating this core principle.
Social justice
"Ethical principle in which social workers’ primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems" relates to which social work value
Service
A social worker realizes that they made an error in a report they submitted for a client’s case, which could impact the client’s treatment plan. The social worker admits the mistake to their supervisor and takes immediate steps to correct the error, ensuring the client’s best interests are preserved.
Integrity - Being honest and transparent about mistakes, and taking responsibility for professional conduct.
This act protects patients medical and mental health records.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
A social worker engaging in a romantic relationship with a client or former client is violating this ethical principle.
Integrity
This process involves considering the potential consequences of actions and making choices that uphold ethical standards and professional integrity.
Ethical decision-making
"Social workers seek to strengthen relationships among people in a purposeful effort to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the well-being of individuals, families, social groups, organizations, and communities" relates to which social work value
Importance of Human Relationships
A social worker is assigned to a case involving a client who is experiencing homelessness. The social worker recognizes that the client needs immediate housing, but their caseload is heavy, and they are unable to devote enough time. The social worker refers the client to another social worker who can provide more focused help.
Service - providing help to others, even if it means referring the client to another professional who can better serve their needs.
A social worker must inform the client about the limits of confidentiality during this process at the start of their professional relationship.
Informed Consent
This occurs when a social worker accepts gifts from a client, potentially compromising their objectivity and professional judgment.
Boundary violation
"The social workers primary responsibility is to promote the well-being of clients" is stated in this statute of the Code of Ethics
Commitment to clients
"A social worker fabricates notes about a client’s progress to meet a deadline or performance goal" is a violation of which ethical principle
Integrity
A social worker who has little experience working with individuals with severe mental health issues is assigned to work with a client diagnosed with schizophrenia. The social worker does not seek supervision or additional training, which leads to ineffective treatment.
Competence - The social worker is practicing outside of their area of expertise and failing to seek supervision or additional training
If a social worker accidentally shares confidential information with a third party, it could be considered this.
Breach of confidentiality
A social worker who socializes with a client outside of the professional setting might be engaging in this kind of relationship.
Dual relationship
"Social workers should act to expand choice and opportunity for all people, with special regard for vulnerable, disadvantaged, oppressed, and exploited people and groups" is stated in this standard of the Code of Ethics
Social and political Action
"A social worker practices outside of their area of expertise, leading to inadequate or harmful services" is a violation of which ethical principle?
Competence
A social worker is working with a group of clients who are from a marginalized community. The social worker, however, disregards the systemic issues contributing to their clients’ struggles and does not advocate for any changes to improve their living conditions.
Social Justice - failure to advocate for systemic changes and address the root causes of injustice
The NASW Code of Ethics states that social workers must protect confidential client information even after this has ended.
The professional relationship or the client’s death
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, maintaining clear professional boundaries helps prevent this, which can lead to unethical behavior
Exploitation