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Ethics and Professional Standards Flashcards

6 cards from real LCSW practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 Ethics and Professional Standards flashcards as text

  1. A client discloses they plan to harm a specific person. Under the Tarasoff duty-to-protect ruling, the LCSW must first:

    Answer: Warn the identified potential victim and notify law enforcement

    The Tarasoff ruling establishes that therapists have a duty to protect identifiable third parties from credible threats made by clients.

  2. Which NASW Code of Ethics standard specifically addresses the social worker's responsibility to maintain professional boundaries with clients?

    Answer: Standard 1.06 – Conflicts of Interest

    NASW Standard 1.06 addresses conflicts of interest, which includes maintaining appropriate boundaries to avoid dual relationships.

  3. An LCSW discovers they share a close mutual friend with a new client. The BEST ethical course of action is to:

    Answer: Disclose the connection and assess whether to refer the client

    Disclosing the potential dual relationship and collaboratively deciding whether to refer protects the client's welfare and upholds ethical integrity.

  4. Informed consent in clinical social work practice must include all of the following EXCEPT:

    Answer: A guarantee of treatment outcomes

    Informed consent never includes guarantees of outcomes because no practitioner can ethically promise specific treatment results.

  5. When an LCSW suspects a colleague is practicing while impaired by substance use, the NASW Code of Ethics directs the social worker to:

    Answer: Address the concern with the colleague and report if necessary

    NASW ethics call for first attempting to address the concern with the colleague directly, then pursuing formal channels if the problem persists.

  6. A minor client (age 15) shares information about self-harm behavior. Regarding confidentiality, the LCSW should:

    Answer: Assess imminent risk and involve parents as clinically and legally appropriate

    The LCSW must balance confidentiality with safety obligations, involving parents when there is imminent risk while considering state law and clinical judgment.