Week 2:Ethics, Confidentiality, and Informed Consent

Ethical behavior in social work can be confusing and unclear at times, because social work is a value-laden profession, fraught with conflicting values. This conflict might sometimes be between one’s own personal values and professional values, or conflicts within the Code of Ethics itself. The purpose of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics is to guide the professional conduct of social workers.

Learning Objectives

Week 2:Ethics, Confidentiality, and Informed Consent

Students will:

• Analyze the importance of confidentiality in the therapeutic relationship
• Analyze the impact of mandated reporting on vulnerable populations
• Analyze dual-role relationships

Learning Resources

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

Daley, M., R., & Hickman, S. (2011). Dual relations and beyond: Understanding and addressing ethical challenges for rural social work. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 8(1). Retrieved from http://jswve.org/download/2011-1/spr11-daley-hickman-Dual-relationships-and-beyond.pdf

National Association of Social Workers. (2017). Code of ethics. Retrieved from https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

Reamer, F. G. (2011, November 30). When bad things happen to good social workers: The perils of ethics mistakes. Social Work Today. Retrieved from http://www.socialworktoday.com/news/eoe_113011.shtml

Optional Resources

Use this link to access the MSW home page, which provides resources for your social work program.

Discussion 1: Informed Consent

 

Informed consent means that a social worker or another professional will not intervene in a client’s life or release confidential information about him unless that client has freely consented

— Dolgoff, Harrington, & Loewenberg, 2012, p. 160

 

Social workers are bound by the NASW Code of Ethics (2008) to provide informed consent with every client. A signed informed consent form protects the client and the social worker. It exemplifies the profession’s respect for its clients, allows for self-determination, and is the cornerstone of good social work practice. Sometimes, though, reporting of confidential information is mandated by law.

By Day 3

Post a description of the importance of confidentiality when working with your client. How does the principle of confidentiality impact the therapeutic relationship? Then, explain your understanding of mandated reporting and how it empowers vulnerable populations.

Support your posts with specific references to this week’s resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references

By Day 5

Respond to at least two colleagues, using personal experience or research to expand on his or her post.

Support your responses with specific references to this week’s resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 2 Discussion 1 Rubric

Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 5

To participate in this Discussion:

Week 2 Discussion 1

Discussion 2: Dual-Role Relationships

Consider this scenario:

You receive a hotline call at your mental health agency from a client requesting a same-day appointment. You are the only social worker available to work with clients at the time, as your coworker is out of town on vacation for 10 days. A 15-year-old boy struggling with depression (no suicidal ideation) and addiction calls asking for help.

While you are gathering information over the phone, you realize that he happens to be the son of a friend. Do you continue the process, planning on providing him with services, or do you refer him to another mental health clinic that is over 30 miles away? Do you make him wait until your coworker returns? Do you contact his parents and tell them he called?

In certain geographical areas there may be limited resources and in turn a lack of opportunities for clients to obtain assistance. In some rural or otherwise isolated areas there might be situations that make it difficult to maintain ideal boundaries due to dual-role relationships. Dual-role relationships exist when a professional fills multiple roles at the same time, a situation that may be unavoidable in certain circumstances.

Understanding the significant impact of a dual-role relationship with a client is important in order to avoid harming the client. Further, recognizing the impact on the client and the relationship will assist in the creation of strong professional boundaries. In these situations, a social worker might feel his or her ability to maintain these boundaries is compromised or may even experience a value dilemma due to the existence of dual-role relationships.

Consider the importance of boundaries in a therapeutic relationship. Think about ways a social worker might violate the NASW Code of Ethics as it pertains to dual-role relationships. Is there ever a situation in which dual-role relationships are acceptable, or even preferable?

By Day 4

Post an explanation of how you might respond to the situation with the 15-year-old boy on the hotline. Include ways your decision may impact the client. Support your position with references to this week’s resources, professional experience, and additional research. How will you address a possible dual-role relationship?

Support your posts with specific references to this week’s resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two colleagues by explaining how your colleague’s decision contradicts or supports the NASW Code of Ethics as it pertains to dual-role relationships. In addition, provide a suggestion for how your colleague might balance the needs of the client while maintaining the NASW Code of Ethics regarding dual-role relationships.

Support your responses with specific references to this week’s resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 2 Discussion 2 Rubric

Post by Day 4 and Respond by Day 6

To participate in this Discussion:

Week 2 Discussion 2

Week in Review

In this week, you analyzed the importance of confidentiality in the therapeutic relationship and analyzed the impact of mandated reporting on vulnerable populations.

In the next week, you will take an ecological perspective, understanding a child’s experience within his or her home and surrounding environment, and will help to identify the level of support and safety.

To go to the next week:

Week 3