Social Work Ethics and Values Flashcards

A social worker is using social media and receives a friend request from a former client whose treatment ended six months ago. The most ethical response is to:

Answer: Decline the request to maintain professional boundaries and avoid a dual relationship

Professional boundaries with former clients must be maintained, and social media connections can compromise confidentiality and create dual relationship issues even after treatment ends.

When an LMSW working in a school setting learns a student is being emotionally abused at home, the worker's primary obligation is to:

Answer: Make a mandated report to child protective services as required by law

Social workers are mandated reporters, and suspected emotional abuse must be reported to child protective services regardless of the worker's own assessment or investigation.

The ethical principle of nonmaleficence in social work practice most directly requires that social workers:

Answer: Avoid actions that cause unnecessary harm to clients

Nonmaleficence, derived from the medical ethics principle 'first, do no harm,' requires social workers to avoid interventions or actions that could harm clients.

A client with severe depression and suicidal ideation refuses hospitalization. The social worker believes the client is at imminent risk. The most ethical next step is to:

Answer: Initiate an involuntary psychiatric evaluation to protect the client's safety

When a client poses an imminent risk of suicide and refuses voluntary hospitalization, initiating an involuntary psychiatric hold is ethically justified to protect the client's life.

Which scenario represents an appropriate use of self-disclosure by a social worker?

Answer: Briefly mentioning a shared experience to normalize a client's feelings and strengthen rapport

Appropriate self-disclosure is purposeful, brief, and serves the client's therapeutic needs; it does not shift focus to the worker or burden the client with the worker's personal issues.

A social worker disagrees with a supervisor's directive to close a case the worker believes is not ready for termination. The ethical course of action is to:

Answer: Document disagreement in the case file and advocate for the client through proper channels

Social workers are ethically obligated to advocate for clients through appropriate professional channels when they believe a decision conflicts with the client's best interests.

According to the NASW Code of Ethics, social workers have an obligation to engage in political and social action primarily to:

Answer: Expand access to needed resources and challenge social injustice for vulnerable populations

The NASW Code calls on social workers to engage in political and social action aimed at expanding opportunities for vulnerable groups and eliminating social injustice.