Social Work Ethics & Professional Standards 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to the NASW Code of Ethics, what is the primary responsibility of social workers?
- Advancing the interests of their employing agency
- Promoting the well-being of clients (Correct answer)
- Complying with all federal laws
- Maintaining professional credentials
Correct 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.
Question 2: Informed consent in social work requires that clients be provided with:
- A copy of the social worker's license
- Information about services, risks, rights, and alternatives before agreeing to treatment (Correct answer)
- Insurance coverage details only
- Supervisor contact information
Correct 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.
Question 3: Confidentiality in social work practice must be broken when:
- The client shares embarrassing personal information
- There is a duty to warn of serious, imminent threat to a third party (Correct answer)
- Another professional requests the information
- The client is unhappy with services
Correct 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.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of a dual relationship in social work?
- Seeing two clients from the same family
- Providing therapy to a current business partner (Correct answer)
- Consulting with a colleague about a case
- Referring a client to a specialist
Correct 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.
Question 5: The principle of self-determination in social work means:
- The social worker determines goals for the client
- Clients have the right to make their own choices and decisions (Correct answer)
- The agency sets the terms of service delivery
- The supervisor approves all treatment plans
Correct 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.
Question 6: Mandatory reporting laws in the US require social workers to report suspected:
- Substance use by adults
- Child abuse and neglect (Correct answer)
- Infidelity in marriages
- Financial mismanagement
Correct 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.
Social Work Ethics & Professional Standards 1
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, what is the primary responsibility of social workers?