Ethical Practice Flashcards
7 cards from real SSW practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethical Practice flashcards as text
A school social worker discovers that a student's parent is also a client at the same community agency where the social worker does part-time work. This situation is best described as:
Answer: A dual relationship requiring careful management
Dual relationships require careful ethical management, including disclosure and possible supervision consultation, but do not always mandate immediate case transfer.
Under FERPA, which party generally has the right to access a student's educational records?
Answer: Parents of students under 18, or the student if 18 or older
FERPA grants parents the right to access records for students under 18; once a student turns 18, that right transfers to the student.
A student tells a school social worker about ongoing emotional abuse at home but asks that nothing be done. The social worker's ethical obligation is to:
Answer: Report to child protective services as mandated by law
School social workers are mandated reporters, and legal duty to report suspected child abuse supersedes client requests for confidentiality.
When a school social worker is uncertain about the ethical course of action in a complex case, the FIRST recommended step is to:
Answer: Consult the NASW Code of Ethics and seek supervision
The NASW Code of Ethics and supervision consultation are the primary resources for navigating ethical dilemmas in school social work.
A school social worker shares a student's mental health information with a teacher without the student's consent. Which ethical principle has most clearly been violated?
Answer: Confidentiality
Sharing protected mental health information without consent violates the principle of confidentiality, a cornerstone of ethical social work practice.
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'informed consent' in school social work?
Answer: Clients receiving and understanding information about services before agreeing to participate
Informed consent requires that clients receive sufficient information about services, risks, and alternatives so they can make a voluntary, knowledgeable decision.
A school social worker's personal religious beliefs conflict with a student's lifestyle choices. Ethical practice requires the social worker to:
Answer: Set aside personal values and provide competent, non-judgmental services
The NASW Code of Ethics requires social workers to practice without discrimination and not allow personal values to interfere with professional obligations.