LMSW Social Work Ethics and Values 5

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:

Accepted Answer

Decline the request to maintain professional boundaries and avoid a dual relationship

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

Make a mandated report to child protective services as required by law

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

Avoid actions that cause unnecessary harm to clients

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

Initiate an involuntary psychiatric evaluation to protect the client's safety

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Briefly mentioning a shared experience to normalize a client's feelings and strengthen rapport

Answer

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.

LMSW - Licensed Master Social Worker Practice Test

LMSW - Licensed Master Social Worker Practice Test

LMSW Social Work Ethics and Values 5