Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. Competence.
(1) Social workers shall accept
responsibility or employment only on the basis of existing competence or the
intention to acquire the necessary competence.
(2) Social workers shall strive to become and
remain proficient in professional practice and the performance of professional
functions. Social workers should critically examine and keep current with
emerging knowledge relevant to social work. Social workers should routinely
review the professional literature and participate in continuing education
relevant to social work practice and social work ethics.
(3) Social workers shall base practice on
recognized knowledge, including empirically based knowledge, relevant to social
work and social work ethics.
B. Nondiscrimination. A social worker shall
not discriminate against a client, student or supervisee on the basis of age,
gender, sexual orientation, race, color, national origin, religion, diagnosis,
disability, political affiliation, or social or economic status. If the social
worker is unable to offer services because of a concern about potential
discrimination against a client, student or supervisee, the social worker shall
make an appropriate and timely referral. When a referral is not possible the
social worker shall obtain supervision or consultation to address the
concerns.
C. Private conduct.
Social workers shall not permit their private conduct to interfere with their
ability to fulfill their professional responsibilities.
D. Dishonesty, fraud, and deception. Social
workers shall not participate in, condone, or be associated with dishonesty,
fraud, or deception.
E. Impairment.
(1) Social workers shall not allow their own
personal problems, psychosocial distress, legal problems, substance abuse, or
mental health difficulties to interfere with their professional judgment and
performance or to jeopardize the best interests of people for whom they have a
professional responsibility.
(2)
Social workers whose personal problems, psychosocial distress, legal problems,
substance abuse, or mental health difficulties interfere with their
professional judgment and performance shall immediately seek consultation and
take appropriate remedial action by seeking professional help, making
adjustments in workload, terminating practice, or taking any other steps
necessary to protect clients and others.
F. Misrepresentation.
(1) Social workers shall make clear
distinctions between statements made and actions engaged in as a private
individual and as a representative of the social work profession, a
professional social work organization, or the social worker's employing
agency.
(2) Social workers who
speak on behalf of professional social work organizations should accurately
represent the official and authorized positions of the organizations.
(3) Social workers shall ensure that their
representations to clients, agencies, and the public of professional
qualifications, credentials, education, competence, affiliations, services
provided, or results to be achieved are accurate. Social workers should claim
only those relevant professional credentials they actually possess and take
steps to correct any inaccuracies or misrepresentations of their credentials by
others.
G.
Solicitations.
(1) Social workers shall not
engage in uninvited solicitation of potential clients who, because of their
circumstances, are vulnerable to undue influence, manipulation, or
coercion.
(2) Social workers shall
not engage in solicitation of testimonial endorsements (including solicitation
of consent to use a client's prior statement as a testimonial endorsement) from
current clients or from other people who, because of their particular
circumstances, are vulnerable to undue influence.
H. Acknowledging credit.
(1) Social workers shall take responsibility
and credit, including authorship credit, only for work they have actually
performed and to which they have contributed.
(2) Social workers shall honestly acknowledge
the work of and the contributions made by others.
