Jacklyn Lake & Megan Martin

Social workers primary responsibility is to

promote the well being of clients. In general,
clients interests are primary.


Challenge: when a social worker is required
by law to report that a client has abused a
child or has threatened to harm self or
others.
Social workers respect and promote the
right of clients to self-determination and
assist clients in their efforts to identify and
clarify their goals.


Challenge: When a clients goals for
themselves effect others in a harmful or
negative way.
Provide services to clients only in the context of a professional
relationship based, when appropriate, on valid informed consent.
In instances when clients are not literate or have difficulty
understanding the primary language used in the practice setting, social
workers should take steps to ensure clients comprehension.
In instances when clients lack the capacity to provide informed
consent, social workers should protect clients interests by seeking
permission from an appropriate third party, informing clients consistent
with the clients level of understanding.
If client is receiving services involuntarily, be sure to provide
information of the extent of services to client regardless.
When providing services via electronic media, always inform clients of
limitations and risks.
Obtain informed consent before video or audio taping from client.


Challenge: Client being recorded.

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.

Challenge: Knowing the technique you want
to use but not having the proper training to
utilize it.
Social workers should have a knowledge
base of their clients cultures and be able to
demonstrate competence in the provision of
services that are sensitive to clients cultures
and to differences among people and cultural
groups.

Challenge: Not knowing every culture that
there is, and not knowing how it effects each
individual differently.
Be alert and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the
exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment.
Should not take unfair advantage of any professional
relationships for own interests.
Do not engage in dual or multiple relationships with clients or
former clients where there is risk of exploitation or potential
harm to the client.
When social workers provide services to two or more people
who have a relationship with each other (for example, couples,
family members), social workers should clarify with all parties
which individuals will be considered clients and the nature of
social workers professional obligations to the various individuals
who are receiving services.
Challenge: Working with families and determining what is the
main issue that needs to be worked on. Worker needs to realize
that a family cannot be fixed all at once.
Respect clients right to privacy.
May disclose confidential information when
appropriate with valid consent from a client.
Protect the confidentiality of all information
obtained in the course of professional service,
with certain professional reasons.
Should inform clients, about the disclosure of
confidential information and the potential
consequences.

Discuss with clients the nature of confidentiality and
limitations of clients right to confidentiality.
When social workers provide counseling to two or
more people at the same time, the social worker
needs to seek agreement among everyone involved in
concernment with confidentiality rights.
Do not disclose confidential information to third party
payers unless clients authorize it.

Challenge: If court orders information about a
client that would break confidentiality, then what
would the social worker do?
Social workers should provide clients with
reasonable access to records concerning the
clients.
When providing clients with access to their
records, social workers should take steps to
protect the confidentiality of other
individuals identified or discussed in such
records.

Challenge: When an individual gets upset
about what is in their record.
Social workers should under no
circumstances engage in sexual activities or
sexual contact with current clients, past
clients, any clients family members, or
personal past sexual partners.

Challenge: A past sexual partner coming to
you on advice on a current case of theirs for
advice.

Social workers should not engage in physical
contact with clients when there is a
possibility of psychological harm to the client
as a result of the contact.

Challenge: A touchy feely client who likes
hugs
Social workers should not sexually harass
clients. Sexual harassment includes sexual
advances, sexual solicitation, requests for
sexual favors, and other verbal or physical
conduct of a sexual nature.

Speaks to us: Common sense

Social workers should not use derogatory
language in their written or verbal
communications to or about clients.
Social workers should use accurate and
respectful language in all communications to
and about clients.

Challenge: Jacklyns Client

When setting fees, social workers should
ensure that the fees are fair, reasonable, and
commensurate with the services performed.
Consideration should be given to clients
ability to pay.
Social workers should avoid accepting goods
or services from clients as payment for
professional services.

Challenge: Megans client with cupcakes

When social workers act on behalf of clients
who lack the capacity to make informed
decisions, social workers should take
reasonable steps to safeguard the interests
and rights of those clients.

Speaks to you: Dealing with clients that
dont know the smartest decisions.

Social workers should make reasonable
efforts to ensure continuity of services in the
event that services are interrupted by factors
such as unavailability, relocation, illness,
disability, or death.

Challenge: Making sure clients will have
proper services provided for them wherever
they may go.

Terminate services when appropriate.
After terminating services with client, do not abandon them for
themselves, take steps to ensure they have appropriate continuing
help.
If client is not paying services termination is an acceptable action.
Social Workers should not terminate services for their own personal
reasons.
Social workers who anticipate the termination or interruption of
services to clients should notify clients promptly and seek the transfer,
referral, or continuation of services in relation to the clients needs
and preferences.
Social workers who are leaving an employment setting should inform
clients of appropriate options for the continuation of services and of
the benefits and risks of the options.

Speaks to us: This shows the importance of making sure our clients
have services available for them after termination of services.