Ethical Practice Flashcards
7 cards from real SSW practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethical Practice flashcards as text
A student who is 17 years old wants to consent to mental health services without parental involvement. The school social worker should FIRST:
Answer: Review state law regarding minor consent, as many states allow minors to consent to mental health services
Minor consent laws vary by state, and school social workers must know their jurisdiction's statutes regarding adolescent consent to mental health services.
When using telehealth or digital platforms to provide school social work services, which ethical concern is most critical?
Answer: Ensuring privacy, security, and informed consent about technology-specific risks and limitations
Digital practice requires attention to platform security, data privacy protections, and ensuring clients understand the unique risks of electronic communication.
A school social worker is asked to serve on an IEP team for a student they have been counseling. To maintain ethical boundaries, the social worker should:
Answer: Participate and clearly define their role while managing any potential role conflicts transparently
Participation on IEP teams is appropriate when the social worker clearly defines their role, manages role boundaries, and shares only information relevant and consented to.
An ethical dilemma differs from an ethical problem primarily because:
Answer: An ethical dilemma involves a conflict between two or more equally compelling ethical principles
True ethical dilemmas arise when two legitimate ethical principles are in conflict, making the 'right' course of action genuinely unclear.
A school social worker overhears a colleague making derogatory remarks about a student's family in the staff lounge. The most ethical response is to:
Answer: Address the behavior with the colleague directly and/or report to a supervisor
Social workers have an ethical obligation to challenge colleagues' unethical behavior and protect clients from harm, including discriminatory or demeaning remarks.
Which action best demonstrates adherence to the NASW ethical standard of professional competence?
Answer: Seeking supervision, training, and consultation when working beyond areas of expertise
Competence requires ongoing professional development, supervision, and knowing when to seek consultation rather than practicing beyond one's demonstrated skills.
A student shares information in a group counseling session that another student then discloses outside the group. The school social worker's ethical responsibility includes:
Answer: Establishing and reinforcing group confidentiality norms and addressing breaches with the group
While confidentiality in groups cannot be fully guaranteed, social workers are responsible for clearly establishing norms and addressing violations to protect group members.