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Code
of Ethics
Introduction
Ethical principles are fundamental to clinical social work. Ethics
are precepts that guide the moral conduct of professionals; they
are not the same as practice standards, which prescribe competent
practice at various levels of development. Clinical social worker
members of the Center for Clinical Social Work are required to
adhere to its ethics code. They must also observe ethics codes
and precepts of relevant state statutes and regulations and of
the social work membership organizations, certification boards,
employing agencies, or uniformed services to which they may belong.
The Center’s ethics code consists of general principles
rather than specific rules and regulations. Specific rules and
regulations are contained in various sections of state license
statutes. Several state Societies for Clinical Social Work and
the National Association of Social Workers have specific ethical
standards for social work practice. The member is referred to
these codes for additional guidance in matters of ethical conduct,
as well as to the principles below.
PRINCIPLES
I. Responsibility to Clients
- Clinical social workers observe the primacy of client need
balanced with the right to self-determination. They take all
reasonable steps to prevent the client from causing harm to
self and others, and use their diagnostic and treatment skills
to improve the mental health and social functioning of clients.
- Early in professional relationships clinical social workers
explain their professional identity and qualifications, setting
fair fees (no fee-splitting) and defining mutual obligations, including
the need to terminate services when not required/desired by
the client. They make provisions to avoid abandonment when services
must be interrupted.
- Except as mandated by law, legal precedent or court order,
client-clinician communication is privileged and confidential,
and the release of such information at any time must occur only
with written informed consent of the client, legal guardian,
or research subject.
- Clinical social workers monitor the quality of their services,
continuously evaluate their effectiveness, and strive to increase
skills, knowledge and mastery. They refrain from conduct in
which personal issues or biases may prove harmful or impede
competence.
- Clinical social workers do not use clients for self-interest,
do not socialize with clients in a manner detrimental to treatment,
and do not exploit clients or engage in sexual harassment or
sexual relationships with supervisees, students, employees,
research subjects, or current and former clients. The clinician
carries the burden of determining that a relationship is appropriate,
not detrimental, and does not violate boundaries of roles.
II. Responsibility to Profession
- Clinical social workers practice within the legal constraints
of their state license(s) and adhere to the ethics codes of
the social-work organizations to which they belong.
- Clinical social workers act in a manner that promotes and
preserves the professional social work values and the practice
standards of clinical social work.
- Clinical social workers make clear their role when speaking
or acting as a private individual rather than as a professional
or as a representative of a professional organization.
- When more than one clinician is involved in the care of a client,
clinical social workers seek to coordinate treatment. They are
obligated to address any collaborative issues that are not in
the best interest of the client.
III. Responsibility to Society
- Clinical social workers do not discriminate against anyone,
including discrimination due to age, race, religion, ethnicity,
nationality, gender, or sexual orientation.
- Clinical social workers, acting as practitioners, instructors,
supervisors, or employers, take care to avoid incompetence,
dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or dishonorable
business practices.
- If an employing entity’s practices/policies conflict
with professional ethics or practice standards, the clinician
shall seek to bring about change in the employing entity.
- Clinical social workers conduct research in a manner consistent
with the values/standards of clinical social work practice,
and report findings accurately.
ADJUDICATION
As an independent membership organization, the Center may reprimand
or censure the member or suspend or revoke his/her membership,
for any of the following reasons:
- Any breach of this ethics code,
- Conviction of a felony or crime of moral turpitude,
- Any misdemeanor based on professional shortcomings,
- Incompetence (professional or mental) or narcotics addiction
or habitual intoxication,
- Expulsion from other social work organizations, or for revocation
of state licensure or certification.
Through its website and newsletter, the Center may make public
any disciplinary action taken against the practitioner.
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