NASW Code of Ethics and more

The NASW Code of Ethics serves six purposes...

1. The Code identifies core values on which social work's mission is based.
2. The Code summarizes broad ethical principles that reflect the profession's core values and establishes a set of specific ethical standards that should be used to guide social w

Core Values of the Social Work Profession

1. Service
2. Social justice
3. Dignity and worth of the person
4. Importance of human relationships
5. Integrity
6. Competence

Service

Social workers' primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems. Social workers elevate service to others above self-interest. Social workers are encouraged to volunteer some portion of their professional skills with no expectation o

Social Justice

Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people. Social workers' social change efforts are focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other fo

Dignity and Worth of the Person

Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person. Social workers treat each person in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual differences and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers promote clients' socially respons

Importance of Human Relationships

Social workers understand that relationships between and among people are an important vehicle for change. Social workers seek to strengthen relationships among people in a purposeful effort to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the well-being of ind

Integrity

Social workers are continually aware of the profession's mission, values, ethical principles, and ethical standards and practice in a manner consistent with them.

Competence

Social workers should provide services and represent themselves as competent only within the boundaries of their education, training, license, certification, consultation received, supervised experience, or other relevant professional experience.

Client Self-Determination

Social workers respect and promote the right of clients to self-determination and assist clients in their efforts to identify and clarify their goals. Limitations exist when (as per professional judgment) clients' actions or potential actions pose a serio

Intrinsic worth and value of the individual

Intrinsic value as it is related to humanity is a belief that all human beings have the same worth as their fellow human beings. It is the belief that just by the virtue of being human no one has the right to impede on the rights of others for any reason.

Client's Right to Refuse Service

In instances when clients are receiving services involuntarily, social workers should provide information about the nature and extent of services and about the extent of clients' right to refuse service.

Ethical Issues Regarding Termination

Social workers should take reasonable steps to avoid abandoning clients who are still in need of services. Social workers should not terminate services to pursue a social, financial, or sexual relationship with a client. Social workers who anticipate the

Bioethical Issues

Bioethics is concerned with questions about basic human values such as the rights to life and health, and the rightness or wrongness of certain developments in healthcare institutions, life technology, medicine, the health professions and about society's

Ethical Decision-Making Model

1. Identify the problem and the persons, institutions, clients, professionals, support systems, victims, and others that are involved in this problem.
2. Determine who should be involved in decision-making.
3. Identify the relevant values held by those id

Ethical Assessment Screen

1. Identify the relevant professional values and ethics, your own relevant values, and any societal values relevant to the ethical decision to be made in relation to this ethical dilemma.
2. What can you do to minimize conflicts between personal, societal

Ethical Rules Screen

Examine the Code of Ethics to determine if any of the Code rules are applicable. These rules take precedence over the worker's personal value system. If one or more of the Code rules apply: Follow the Code rules. If the Code does not address the specific

Ethical Principles Screen

(There is not an official order but the following is generally accepted. Consider which ethical principles apply to the situation. Those higher on the list should be addressed first.)
1. Protection of life
2. Equality and inequality
3. Autonomy and freedo

Responsibility to Seek Supervision

It is important to the profession to have assurance that all social workers are equipped with the necessary skills to deliver competent and ethical social work services. Equally important is the responsibility to protect clients. Supervision is an essenti

Professional Development

A self-directed process, which requires social workers to assume responsibility for the growth of their own professional knowledge base. Regardless of career stage, social workers are ethically required to keep informed of current research, theory, and te

Professional Boundaries

i. The professional relationship is limited and focused on the problem for which help is sought. The professional assumes responsibility for helping the client with his problem(s), and traditionally, the relationship terminates once these objectives have

The social worker has responsibilities to the following....

1. Clients
2. Colleagues
3. In practices settings
4. As professionals
5. The social work profession
6. The broader society

Social Work Responsibility to Clients

Social workers' primary responsibility is to promote the well-being of clients. Social workers' responsibility to the larger society or specific legal obligations may on limited occasions supersede the loyalty owed clients, and clients should be advised (

Social Work Responsibility to Colleagues

1. Social workers should treat colleagues with respect
2. SWers should cooperate with SW colleagues and with colleagues of other professions when such cooperation serves the well-being of clients.
3. SWers should seek the advice and counsel of colleagues

Social Work Responsibility in Practice Settings

1. Social workers generally should adhere to commitments made to employers and employing organizations.
2. Social workers should work to improve employing agencies; policies and procedures and the efficiency and effectiveness of their services

Social Work Responsibility as Professionals

Social workers should strive to become and remain proficient in professional practice and the performance of professional functions. Social workers should critically examine and keep current with emerging knowledge relevant to social work. Social workers

Social Work Responsibility to the Social Work Profession

1. Social workers should uphold and advance the values, ethics, knowledge, and mission of the profession. Social workers should protect, enhance, and improve the integrity of the profession through appropriate study and research, active discussion, and re

Social Work Responsibility to the Broader Society

1. Social workers should promote the general welfare of society, from local to global levels, and the development of people, their communities, and their environments. Social workers should advocate for living conditions conducive to the fulfillment of ba