A Social Worker’s Responsibility to His or Her Clients

A Social Worker’s Responsibility to His or Her Clients By: Meredith Brunkow and Joanna Esker Social Work Field Practicum March 14, 2014

Who are these People?

Something to Remember “There is no greater joy nor greater reward than to make a fundamental difference in someone's life.” ~Sister Mary Rose McGeady

1.01 Commitment to Clients As a social worker, our primary responsibility is to our clients’ well-being. Social workers are required by law to report if a client has abused a child or has threatened to harm themselves or others.

1.02 Self-Determination Social workers should respect and promote the right of a client’s self-determination and assist clients in their efforts to identify and clarify their goals. Social workers can limit a client’s self-determination if a client’s actions or potential actions pose a serious risk to themselves or others.

1.03 Informed Consent Social workers should protect clients’ interests, when clients lack the ability to provide informed consent. If a client lacks the ability to provide informed consent, social workers should seek permission from an appropriate third party. Social workers should take reasonable steps to enable their client to provide informed consent.

1.04 Competence Social workers should provide services and represent themselves as knowledgeable in their field, which reflects their education and training. Social workers should never assume that they know everything about every culture or political issue.

1.05 Cultural Competence and Social Diversity Social workers should understand the significance of culture and its impact on human behavior and society. Social workers should have a knowledge base of their clients’ cultures and be able to demonstrate competence when providing services. Social workers should obtain an education and be exposed to various cultural experiences.

“Diversity makes for a rich tapestry. We must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value, no matter their color.” - Maya Angelou

1.06 Conflicts of Interest Social workers should avoid conflicts of interests, exercise professional discretion and use impartial judgment. Social workers should not take advantage of any professional relationship to further their personal or business interests.

1.07 Privacy and Confidentiality Social workers should respect a client’s right to privacy. Social workers should protect the confidentiality of all information obtained, except for legal reasons. Social workers are not expected to conceal information when disclosure is necessary to prevent harm to a client or other individuals.

Show respect to your clients

1.08 Access to Records Social workers should provide clients with reasonable access to their records. When providing clients with access to their records, social workers should still protect the confidentiality of other individuals also identified in that client’s records.

1.09 Sexual Relationships Social workers should never engage in sexual contact with current clients, whether it is consensual or forced. Social workers should also not engage in sexual contact with clients’ relatives or other individuals with whom clients maintain a personal relationship.

1.10 and 1.11: Physical Contact and Sexual Harassment • 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. • Social workers should not sexually harass clients. This includes sexual advances, sexual solicitation, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

1.12 Derogatory Language Social workers should not use derogatory language in their written or verbal communications when talking with or about clients. Social workers should use accurate and respectful language in all communications.

1.13 Payment for Services When setting fees, social workers should ensure that the fees are fair, reasonable, and equal with the services performed. Social workers should avoid accepting goods or services from clients as payment for professional services.

1.14 Decision Making Skills When social workers act on behalf of clients who lack the capacity to make informed decisions, social workers should take into consideration the interests and rights of their clients.

1.15 Interruption of Services Social workers should work to ensure obtainable services in the event that services are interrupted by factors such as unavailability, relocation, illness, disability, or death.

1.16 Termination of Services Social Workers can terminate their services if they believe that their client no longer needs their assistance. Social workers who are leaving an employment setting should inform clients of appropriate options for the continuation of services. Social workers should notify clients promptly and seek the transfer, referral, or continuation of services in relation to the clients’ needs.

“Never, be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.” - Martin Luther King, Jr. “When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice." -Cherokee Expression “I want to inspire people. I want someone to look at me and say ‘because of you I didn’t give up.’”

GAME TIME!! Mother May I??

A Social Worker’s Responsibility to His or Her Clients