LMSW Professional Values and Ethics Questions and Answers Flashcards
7 cards from real LMSW practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 LMSW Professional Values and Ethics Questions and Answers flashcards as text
A social worker learns that a 16-year-old client is sexually active with a 17-year-old peer, both consenting. The MOST appropriate response is:
Answer: Discuss safety and contraception without mandatory reporting
Consensual sexual activity between teens close in age is generally not reportable; the worker should focus on safety and education.
An LMSW is subpoenaed for a client's records. The client does NOT consent to disclosure. The social worker should FIRST:
Answer: Consult an attorney and seek a protective order or quash the subpoena
A subpoena is not a court order; the worker should consult legal counsel and attempt to protect confidentiality before complying.
The concept of 'informed consent' in social work practice means that clients must be told:
Answer: The nature, risks, benefits, alternatives, and their right to refuse services
Informed consent requires full disclosure of nature, risks, benefits, alternatives, and the right to refuse so clients can make autonomous decisions.
A social worker who is recovering from substance use disorder begins working in an addiction treatment program. Which is TRUE regarding ethical practice?
Answer: The worker may practice if competent and the history does not impair practice
Personal history does not bar practice; what matters is whether the worker can perform duties competently and without impairment.
A client in a rural area asks to connect with their social worker on social media. The MOST ethical response is to:
Answer: Decline and explain the professional boundary rationale
Social media connections blur professional boundaries and can compromise therapeutic neutrality, regardless of community size.
Which situation represents an appropriate use of self-disclosure by a social worker?
Answer: Briefly disclosing relevant experience to normalize a client's struggle
Appropriate self-disclosure is purposeful, brief, and clinically beneficial to the client rather than meeting the worker's own needs.
A social worker suspects a colleague is impaired by alcohol during work hours. According to NASW ethics, the worker should:
Answer: Address the concern with the colleague and consult supervisors if needed
NASW Code of Ethics calls for addressing impaired colleague behavior through direct communication and appropriate supervisory channels to protect clients.