SSW Ethical Practice 5

Question 1

A student who is 17 years old wants to consent to mental health services without parental involvement. The school social worker should FIRST:

Accepted Answer

Review state law regarding minor consent, as many states allow minors to consent to mental health services

Answer

Minor consent laws vary by state, and school social workers must know their jurisdiction's statutes regarding adolescent consent to mental health services.

Question 2

When using telehealth or digital platforms to provide school social work services, which ethical concern is most critical?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring privacy, security, and informed consent about technology-specific risks and limitations

Answer

Digital practice requires attention to platform security, data privacy protections, and ensuring clients understand the unique risks of electronic communication.

Question 3

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:

Accepted Answer

Participate and clearly define their role while managing any potential role conflicts transparently

Answer

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.

Question 4

An ethical dilemma differs from an ethical problem primarily because:

Accepted Answer

An ethical dilemma involves a conflict between two or more equally compelling ethical principles

Answer

True ethical dilemmas arise when two legitimate ethical principles are in conflict, making the 'right' course of action genuinely unclear.

Question 5

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:

Accepted Answer

Address the behavior with the colleague directly and/or report to a supervisor

Answer

Social workers have an ethical obligation to challenge colleagues' unethical behavior and protect clients from harm, including discriminatory or demeaning remarks.

(SSW) School Social Worker Practice Test

(SSW) School Social Worker Practice Test

SSW Ethical Practice 5