Social workers should critically examine and keep current with emerging knowledge relevant to social work. No new standards were added, and no new revisions were made to existing standards. The NASW Code of Ethics strictly protects client confidentiality. Many states permit minors of a certain age (e.g., 16) to consent to routine medical care. In instances when clients are not literate or have difficulty understanding the primary language used in the practice setting, social workers should take steps to ensure clients comprehension. As social work ethicist Dr. Frederic Reamer often explains, one of the primary roles of a code of ethics is to educate. Social workers who are members of an interdisciplinary team should participate in and contribute to decisions that affect the wellbeing of clients by drawing on the perspectives, values, and experiences of the social work profession. These revisions took effect on June 1, 2021, and include language that addresses the importance of professional self-care, as well as revisions to the Cultural Competence standard. These activities may be in the form of direct practice, community organizing, supervision, consultation administration, advocacy, social and political action, policy development and implementation, education, and research and evaluation. Social workers elevate service to others above self-interest. EP78: Co-dependency and Love Addiction. Please try again. As of 4/30/20, Medicare will now accept audio-only sessions for behavioral health services . Ethical Principle:Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships. Social workers should treat colleagues with respect and should represent accurately and fairly the qualifications, views, and obligations of colleagues. Social workers should claim only those relevant professional credentials they actually possess and take steps to correct any inaccuracies or misrepresentations of their credentials by others. Challenging workplace climates may include concerns such as large caseloads, insufficient resources, competing ethical demands, and policies and practices that may not align with or support social work values and ethics. https://socialworkpodcast.blogspot.com/2021/05/2021CoE.html. She's author of "The Law of Sobriety" and "The Marriage and Relationship Junkie," and host of The Love Fix podcast. Social workers should provide services in substantive areas or use intervention techniques or approaches that are new to them only after engaging in appropriate study, training, consultation, and supervision from people who are competent in those interventions or techniques. Social workers should avoid accepting goods or services from clients as payment for professional services. The following ethical standards are relevant to the professional activities of all social workers. Social workers should take reasonable steps to ensure that employers are aware of social workers ethical obligations as set forth in the NASW Code of Ethics and of the implications of those obligations for social work practice. The 2017 NASW Code of Ethics - What's New? NASW should publish a full-text version of the Code of Ethics. (Examples include when a social worker is required by law to report that a client has abused a child or has threatened to harm self or others. 2023 National Association of Social Workers. When workers experienced personal problems, psychological distress, legal problems, substance abuse, or mental health issues that might interfere with their work, Standard 4.05 encourages them to immediately seek consultation and take appropriate remedial action by seeking professional help, making adjustments in workload, terminating practice, or taking any other steps necessary to protect clients or others. Although these strategies could be interpreted as self-care, they focus on dealing with personal problems after they arise rather than acting in a proactive or preventative manner. This maxim still holds true. Over time, the NASW Code of Ethics has come to be recognized in the United States as the most visible and influential code of ethics in social work. Social workers should take precautions to ensure and maintain the confidentiality of information transmitted to other parties through the use of computers, electronic mail, facsimile machines, telephones and telephone answering machines, and other electronic or computer technology. In instances when dual or multiple relationships are unavoidable, social workers should take steps to protect clients and are responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries. Social workers should act to prevent and eliminate discrimination in the employing organizations work assignments and in its employment policies and practices. 1.14 Clients Who Lack DecisionMaking Capacity. The 2021 amendments are limited to the following sections of the Code: Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics, Ethical Principles (namely, the Value of Integrity), and standard 1.05, Cultural Competence. Social workers should protect the confidentiality of all information obtained in the course of professional service, except for compelling professional reasons. Additionally, they are offering a free, 90-minute webinar on the changes, 2021 Revisions to the NASW Code of Ethics: Self-Care and Cultural Competence. Demonstrate means responding and doing, not just being aware, feeling, knowing, or thinking. The NASW Code of Ethics reflects the commitment of all social workers to uphold the professions values and to act ethically. Term. NASW Office of Ethics and Professional Review, 1-800-638-8799 750 1st Street, NE, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20002 . Social work organizations, agencies, and educational organizations are also responsible for ensuring that social workers have the support that they need and deserve. Learn how the Code of Ethics has evolved over time. non-social work organizations? In addition to this Code, there are many other sources of information about ethical thinking that may be useful. Social workers should engage in social and political action that seeks to ensure that all people have equal access to the resources, employment, services, and opportunities they require to meet their basic human needs and to develop fully. I hope this will change in the final draft. Social workers should protect the confidentiality of deceased clients consistent with the preceding standards. Social workers should transfer or dispose of clients records in a manner that protects clients confidentiality and is consistent with state statutes governing records and social work licensure. Social workers should be knowledgeable about established policies and procedures for handling concerns about colleagues unethical behavior. They argued that the approved amendments would provide more emphatic language that operationalizes how cultural competence is demonstrated. By using the term must, this revision creates a positive duty on social workers to take action against oppression, racism, discrimination, and inequities, and acknowledge personal privilege.. What resources are currently available for developing a professional and personal self-care plan and promoting professional self-care? Back in 2009 I did an episode of the social work podcast that explored the idea that social . ), 1.02 SelfDeterminationSocial workers respect and promote the right of clients to selfdetermination and assist clients in their efforts to identify and clarify their goals. All sets are available in CD and digital format. The Code socializes practitioners new to the field to social works mission, values, ethical principles, and ethical standards. Social workers should inform participants in family, couples, or group counseling that social workers cannot guarantee that all participants will honor such agreements. The NASW Code of Ethics is to be used by NASW and by individuals, agencies, organizations, and bodies (such as licensing and regulatory boards, professional liability insurance providers, courts of law, agency boards of directors, government agencies, and other professional groups) that choose to adopt it or use it as a frame of reference. Social workers should be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment. LMSW Exam: Code of Ethics. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Social workers should take appropriate steps to ensure that participants in evaluation and research have access to appropriate supportive services. Please contact the publisher for permission to reproduce or reprint any materials on this site. Our guests in this episode are Heidi McIntosh, Deputy Director of Programs at NASW; and Julie E. Shroyer, MSW, Senior Policy Advisor at Polsinelli a top Washington, DC law firm. Social workers in feeforservice settings may terminate services to clients who are not paying an overdue balance if the financial contractual arrangements have been made clear to the client, if the client does not pose an imminent danger to self or others, and if the clinical and other consequences of the current nonpayment have been addressed and discussed with the client. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of any of the organizations to which the author is affiliated, or the views of The New Social Worker magazine or White Hat Communications. To practice in a trustworthy manner, social workers need to be aware of how personal issues are affecting them and ensure that they put proper self-care measures in place. Social workers should take reasonable steps to ensure that clients records are stored in a secure location and that clients records are not available to others who are not authorized to have access. Furthermore, standard 2.10, Unethical Conduct of Colleagues, charges social workers to prevent, address, and expose unethical conduct of colleagues by first discussing concerns. It does not provide a set of rules that prescribe how social workers should act in all situations. How about for taking action against rapists who walk because the victim was blamed? Individual social, workers and organizations can advance accountability through formal and informal systems that continually review the demonstration of cultural competence or lack thereof. The NASW Code of Ethics is available for sale at https://naswpress.org/product/53535/code-of-ethics, What sections of the NASW Code of Ethics were. Social workers should not provide clinical services to individuals with whom they have had a prior sexual relationship. Social workers should not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with clients relatives or other individuals with whom clients maintain a close personal relationship when there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client. Making a commitment to lifelong learning means understanding the limits of what we currently know, questioning our assumptions, reading research and ethnographic narratives, taking courses, seeking assistance from people from various backgrounds, reflecting on practice with clients from diverse backgrounds, and taking note of what is helpful and what is not so helpful in working with particular individuals and groups. When evaluation or research participants are incapable of giving informed consent, social workers should provide an appropriate explanation to the participants, obtain the participants assent to the extent they are able, and obtain written consent from an appropriate proxy. Social work administrators should take reasonable steps to ensure that the working environment for which they are responsible is consistent with and encourages compliance with the NASW Code of Ethics. This may include providing clients with a detailed verbal explanation or arranging for a qualified interpreter or translator whenever possible. When social workers provide services to two or more people who have a relationship with each other (for example, couples, family members), social workers should clarify with all parties which individuals will be considered clients and the nature of social workers professional obligations to the various individuals who are receiving services. Professional ethics are at the core of social work. Social workers for whom a team decision raises ethical concerns should attempt to resolve the disagreement through appropriate channels. Social workers should obtain clients informed consent before audiotaping or videotaping clients or permitting observation of services to clients by a third party. The Code socializes practitioners new to the field to social works mission, values, ethical principles, and ethical standards, and encourages all social workers to engage in self-care, ongoing education, and other activities to ensure their commitment to those same core features of the profession. 2022 National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter. The Code is relevant to all social workers and social work students, regardless of their professional functions, the settings in which they work, or the populations they serve.TheNASW Code of Ethicsserves six purposes: The Code offers a set of values, principles, and standards to guide decision making and conduct when ethical issues arise. It not only says that social workers should demonstrate cultural awareness and humility; it provides examples of how to do so. Social workers decisions and actions should be consistent with the spirit as well as the letter of this Code. Educating employers about social workers ethical obligations is a winwin situation for both social workers and employers. Supervisors and peer consultants may assist with heightening critical reflection and awareness. Social workers promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of clients. Gradually, standards changed, such that now, according to NASW Code of Ethics, standard 3.04[b], "Social workers should include sufficient and timely documentation in records to facilitate the delivery of services and to ensure continuity of services provided to clients in the future." Disclosure of Minors' Counseling Records Social workers should not disclose identifying information when discussing clients for teaching or training purposes unless the client has consented to disclosure of confidential information. Visit www.terrickahardy.com for more on professional self-care. Social workersnot their clients, their clients relatives, or other individuals with whom the client maintains a personal relationshipassume the full burden for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries. Social workers should contact their state licensing board to determine how the recent revisions to the NASW, Many social workers are employed in settings that are not primarily social work organizations. Social workers also should be aware of the impact on ethical decision making of their clients and their own personal values and cultural and religious beliefs and practices. Ethical decision making is a process. Social workers social change efforts are focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice. How about human trafficking? Copyright 2023 by NASW Oregon Chapter. To view the updated NASW Code of Ethics in English or Spanish, as well as pre-order a copy of the code, go to: https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics. Whoever made these revisions want all social workers to become "antiracist" political activists. development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards for The Code, unlike CSWE's EPAS draft for 2022, is deficient in this recognition. There are many instances in social work where simple answers are not available to resolve complex ethical issues. When consulting with colleagues about clients, social workers should disclose the least amount of information necessary to achieve the purposes of the consultation. 800-742-4089, Political Action for Candidate Election (PACE). By placing this new sentence under integrity and trustworthiness, this addition highlights the ethical risks that may arise when social workers do not have adequate self-care. Simultaneously, we also need to start with ourselves, using self-care and critical self-reflection to ensure that we are ready and able to start with our clients. Social workers should take reasonable steps to ensure that documentation in records is accurate and reflects the services provided. Social workers who anticipate a conflict of interest among the individuals receiving services or who anticipate having to perform in potentially conflicting roles (for example, when a social worker is asked to testify in a child custody dispute or divorce proceedings involving clients) should clarify their role with the parties involved and take appropriate action to minimize any conflict of interest. In terms of exposure to trauma, social workers may experience secondary trauma or vicarious traumatic stress when working with clients who have experienced racism, abuse, neglect, community violence, natural disasters, or other forms of trauma. 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