Ethics & Professional Standards Flashcards

According to the NASW Code of Ethics, what is the primary responsibility of social workers?

Answer: Promoting the well-being of clients

The NASW Code of Ethics establishes that social workers' primary obligation is to the well-being of their clients.

Informed consent in social work requires that clients be provided with:

Answer: Information about services, risks, rights, and alternatives before agreeing to treatment

Informed consent requires clients to receive relevant information about services, potential risks, their rights, and alternatives so they can make voluntary, knowledgeable decisions.

Confidentiality in social work practice must be broken when:

Answer: There is a duty to warn of serious, imminent threat to a third party

Based on the Tarasoff duty-to-warn principle, confidentiality must be breached when a client poses a serious, credible, imminent threat to an identifiable third party.

Which of the following is an example of a dual relationship in social work?

Answer: Providing therapy to a current business partner

A dual relationship occurs when a social worker has a professional relationship with a client simultaneously with another type of relationship, such as business or personal.

The principle of self-determination in social work means:

Answer: Clients have the right to make their own choices and decisions

Self-determination is a fundamental social work value that upholds each client's right to make their own decisions about their lives.

Mandatory reporting laws in the US require social workers to report suspected:

Answer: Child abuse and neglect

All US states have mandatory reporting laws requiring social workers and other designated professionals to report suspected child abuse or neglect.