Codes of Ethics for the Supervisionof Social Workers

https://www.clinicalsocialworkassociation.org/content/ethics-code

I. General Responsibilities of Clinical Social Workers
Clinical social workers maintain high standards in all of their professional roles, and value professional competence, objectivity, and integrity. They accept responsibility for the consequences of their work, and ensure that their services are used in an appropriate manner.

d) Clinical social workers have an additional responsibility, both to the profession which provides the basis of their practice, and to those who are entering the profession. As teachers, supervisors, and mentors, they are responsible for maintaining high standards of objectivity and scholarship. In all of their professional activities they consistently examine, and attempt to expand, the knowledge base on which practice in the profession is centered.

II. Responsibility to Clients
The primary responsibility of the clinical social worker is to the individual client, the family or the group with whom he or she has a professional relationship. Clinical social workers respect the dignity, protect the welfare, and maximize the self-determination of the clients with whom they work.

3. Relationship with Clients
c) Clinical social workers are aware of the authority which is inherent in their professional role. They do not engage in any activity that will abuse their professional relationships or exploit others for personal, political, or business interests. As practitioners, supervisors, teachers, administrators, and researchers, their primary professional responsibility is always the welfare of the client(s) with whom they work.

4. Competence
a) Clinical social workers are aware of the scope in which they are entitled to practice. This scope is defined by their areas of personal competence; by their license or other legal recognition; and by their training and/or experience. They are responsible for confining their practice to those areas in which they are legally authorized and in which they are qualified to practice. When necessary, they utilize the knowledge and experience of members of other professions. In using such other consultants or supervisors, the clinical social worker is responsible for ensuring that they are recognized members of their own profession, and are qualified and competent to carry out the service required.

b) Clinical social workers recognize that the privacy and intimacy of the therapeutic relationship may unrealistically intensify the client’s feelings for them. The maintenance of professional boundaries and objectivity is crucial to effective and responsible treatment. Clinical social workers maintain self-awareness and take care to prevent the possible harmful intrusion of their own unresolved personal issues into the therapeutic relationship. They take appropriate steps to resolve the situation when there is a danger of this occurring. Such steps could include but are not limited to: seeking additional supervision or consultation; seeking additional personal treatment; and if necessary, making alternative arrangements for the treatment of the client(s).

Clinical social workers recognize the responsibility to remain abreast of knowledge and developments in the field which may benefit their client(s). Ongoing involvement in supervision, consultation and continuing education are some of the ways in which this responsibility can be fulfilled. It is particularly important for the clinical social worker to secure appropriate training, supervision or consultation when attempting to use a treatment technique with which he or she is unfamiliar.

4. Relationships with Colleagues
c) As supervisors, consultants or employers, clinical social workers are responsible for providing competent professional guidance and a role model to colleagues, employees, and students. They foster working conditions that assure consistency, respect, privacy and protection from physical and mental harm. Clinical social workers do not abuse the authority of their position by harassing or pressuring colleagues, employees or students for sexual reasons, financial gain or any other purpose. Their refrain from actions that are unwarranted by the recipient, and can reasonably be interpreted as pressuring or intimidating the recipient.

e) Clinical social workers who have knowledge of a colleague’s impairment, misconduct, or incompetence attempt to bring about remediation through whatever means is appropriate. Such actions may include, but are not limited to; direct discussion with the colleague, with permission from the client(s), if this is needed; a report, if mandatory, to a regulatory body, professional organization or employer; a report to a supervisor or other agency administrator.