LMSW Social Work Ethics and Values 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A social worker is using social media and receives a friend request from a former client whose treatment ended six months ago. The most ethical response is to:
- Accept the request since the professional relationship has ended
- Decline the request to maintain professional boundaries and avoid a dual relationship (Correct answer)
- Accept the request but limit the former client's access to personal posts
- Consult with a supervisor before making a decision
Correct answer: Decline the request to maintain professional boundaries and avoid a dual relationship
Professional boundaries with former clients must be maintained, and social media connections can compromise confidentiality and create dual relationship issues even after treatment ends.
Question 2: When an LMSW working in a school setting learns a student is being emotionally abused at home, the worker's primary obligation is to:
- Conduct a thorough assessment before making any report
- Make a mandated report to child protective services as required by law (Correct answer)
- Meet with the parents to discuss concerns before involving outside agencies
- Consult with the school principal to determine the school's policy
Correct answer: Make a mandated report to child protective services as required by law
Social workers are mandated reporters, and suspected emotional abuse must be reported to child protective services regardless of the worker's own assessment or investigation.
Question 3: The ethical principle of nonmaleficence in social work practice most directly requires that social workers:
- Promote the well-being and positive outcomes of all clients
- Avoid actions that cause unnecessary harm to clients (Correct answer)
- Treat all clients equally and without favoritism
- Act in ways that benefit the greatest number of people
Correct answer: Avoid actions that cause unnecessary harm to clients
Nonmaleficence, derived from the medical ethics principle 'first, do no harm,' requires social workers to avoid interventions or actions that could harm clients.
Question 4: A client with severe depression and suicidal ideation refuses hospitalization. The social worker believes the client is at imminent risk. The most ethical next step is to:
- Respect the client's autonomy and document their refusal of services
- Initiate an involuntary psychiatric evaluation to protect the client's safety (Correct answer)
- Schedule a follow-up appointment for the next day and provide crisis line numbers
- Consult with a supervisor and contact the client's emergency contact
Correct answer: Initiate an involuntary psychiatric evaluation to protect the client's safety
When a client poses an imminent risk of suicide and refuses voluntary hospitalization, initiating an involuntary psychiatric hold is ethically justified to protect the client's life.
Question 5: Which scenario represents an appropriate use of self-disclosure by a social worker?
- Sharing personal trauma history to show the client they are not alone
- Briefly mentioning a shared experience to normalize a client's feelings and strengthen rapport (Correct answer)
- Discussing personal relationship struggles to build connection with a client going through divorce
- Disclosing political beliefs to help the client understand the worker's perspective
Correct answer: Briefly mentioning a shared experience to normalize a client's feelings and strengthen rapport
Appropriate self-disclosure is purposeful, brief, and serves the client's therapeutic needs; it does not shift focus to the worker or burden the client with the worker's personal issues.
Question 6: A social worker disagrees with a supervisor's directive to close a case the worker believes is not ready for termination. The ethical course of action is to:
- Follow the supervisor's directive without question to respect the chain of command
- Document disagreement in the case file and advocate for the client through proper channels (Correct answer)
- Refuse to close the case and escalate to agency administration immediately
- Consult with the client and let them decide whether to continue services independently
Correct answer: Document disagreement in the case file and advocate for the client through proper channels
Social workers are ethically obligated to advocate for clients through appropriate professional channels when they believe a decision conflicts with the client's best interests.
Question 7: According to the NASW Code of Ethics, social workers have an obligation to engage in political and social action primarily to:
- Advance the interests of their employing organization
- Expand access to needed resources and challenge social injustice for vulnerable populations (Correct answer)
- Promote the professional standing of social work as a discipline
- Educate the public about mental health and social services
Correct answer: Expand access to needed resources and challenge social injustice for vulnerable populations
The NASW Code calls on social workers to engage in political and social action aimed at expanding opportunities for vulnerable groups and eliminating social injustice.
LMSW Social Work Ethics and Values 5
A social worker is using social media and receives a friend request from a former client whose treatment ended six months ago.
The most ethical response is to: