Social Work Ethics: 5 Common Dilemmas and How to Handle Them Responsibly

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics is a set of guiding principles to assist social workers in making decisions in the best interests of their clients, even if they might contradict what we might do in our personal lives. These decisions are not always easy – especially when two guiding principles come into conflict.

Receiving Gifts

Whether it’s the holidays, a special occasion, or some other milestone, your client may try to thank you for your hard work by giving you a gift. These situations are much more complicated than they seem because there are cultural, societal, and relationship factors to consider on top of the bond you and your client share.

Ethical values and principles involved

Importance of Human Relationships – Rejecting the gift may taint the rapport you’ve built, perhaps over several years, or leave the client feeling like you are personally rejecting her.
Integrity – Part of our job is to serve as role-models by maintaining healthy and appropriate boundaries in professional relationships.

Involuntary Commitment

Regardless of your social worker breed, at some point you will come across a client who intends to harm himself or someone else. These are some of our most challenging moments as helpers.

Ethical values and principles involved

Dignity and Worth of the Person – We want to protect the client’s right to decide how to live his life. That said, it should be noted that the Code specifically states, “Social workers may limit clients’ right to self-determination when, in the social workers’ professional judgment, clients’ actions or potential actions pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent risk to themselves or others.” (NASW Code of Ethics 1.02 Self-determination)
Importance of Human Relationships – There is a chance the decision to breach confidentiality will ruin the rapport you have established with that client.

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Breaches of Confidentiality with Minor Clients

There comes a point in every adolescent therapist’s career when you hear these words:

“You’re not gonna tell my mom, are you?”

However soul crushing this may be, you are required by law to report not only to the parent(s), but to the Department of Social Services or Law Enforcement.

Ethical values and principles involved

Dignity and Worth of the Person – We want to support the right to self-determination, even our youngest clients.
Importance of Human Relationship – Breaching a child’s confidentiality may impact their trust moving forward.
Integrity – We must behave in a trustworthy manner, not only with our clients, but with their families and the communities we serve.

Commission of Illegal Acts

Sometimes good clients do bad things. In cases of child abuse or neglect, reporting a client’s behavior is a no-brainer. Other times, however, the rules are a little grey. This is especially common for social workers who are working with clients who are incarcerated or abusing drugs.

Ethical values and principles involved

Dignity and Worth of the Person – As the NASW Code of Ethics states, social workers seek to resolve conflicts between clients’ interests and the broader society’s interests in a socially responsible manner consistent with the values, ethical principles, and ethical standards of the profession.
Importance of Human Relationships – Trust is paramount to a client-worker relationship. Reporting on your client’s illegal activities is in direct conflict with that.
Integrity – We must practice in a way that is honest and responsible. We are also beholden to the laws and policies of the agencies and communities we serve.
Social Justice – Sometimes the law may seem unfair or your client’s situation may feel precarious, especially if he has experienced discrimination or injustice in the past.

Interacting on Social Media

Ten years ago it was considered unethical to email our clients. Now our Code of Ethics specifically addresses the best practices for conducting therapeutic services over the internet. One issue that remains sticky is social media. What should a social worker do if a client tries to “Friend Request” her on Facebook?

Ethical values and principles involved

Dignity and Worth of the Person – You want to respect your client’s right to self-determination.
Importance of Human Relationships – Social media is a ubiquitous part of modern culture, particularly for younger clients. Your client may feel personally rejected or slighted by your decision not to “friend” them.
Integrity – Social workers must act in a way that is consistent with agency policies, even if that creates a bump in the smooth working relationship you have with a client. Some things to consider are how your client’s perception of you may be impacted by the things they learn about you through social media and what your comfort is with them being able to see your personal information and activities.
Competence – In addition to being a competent social worker, you need to be a competent user of technology. Handling this ethical dilemma involves working knowledge of the privacy capabilities and limitations of both the devices and applications involved.

There is no easy answer, and sometimes there is no right answer. You have to decide what’s best for your client and your practice.

Steps for handling ethical dilemmas:

1. Consult the Code

You should always have a copy of the NASW Code of Ethics on hand for times like this. Spend some time reading through the code. Identify the principles that come into conflict in the specific situation and why they are important to social work practice.

2. Review State and Federal Laws

Be sure your decisions are sound, not only ethically but legally. Remember you can’t help anyone if you put yourself in a position to lose your license or your freedom.

3. Seek Supervision

No matter how long you’ve been in the field, if you have doubts, questions, or just need a sounding board, seek supervision. Everyone needs a second opinion once in a while. Supervisors can be particularly helpful in guiding you to make the best decision possible in a difficult situation.

4. Consult the NASW

One of the most vital benefits to being a member of the NASW is having the support of a national organization to back up your work. Most states have a hotline social workers can call when they experience ethical dilemmas. You can discuss your situation confidentially, without using identifying client details, and get professional advice on how to handle things. Sometimes a neutral party is the best resource to help you consider things from a new perspective.

5. Take Time to Process What You’ve Learned

After you’ve done your research and consulted the experts, take some time to process everything before making your decision. Often, when faced with an ethical dilemma, you can’t undo a decision once it’s been made. At the end of the day, you need to be able to live with your decision and to feel confident you are doing what is in the best interest of your client.

– Jane E. Shersher, MSW & Founder Counselors Autonomous: “How to Manage Conflicts in the Workplace”