Executive Solution Overview
Social workers are bound by the NASW Code of Ethics to provide informed consent with every client. A signed informed consent form protects the client and the social worker by clarifying the professional relationship and the scope, risks, and benefits of that relationship. Through informed consent, s…
Assignment Prompt & Instructions
Social workers are bound by the NASW Code of Ethics to provide informed consent with every client. A signed informed consent form protects the client and the social worker by clarifying the professional relationship and the scope, risks, and benefits of that relationship. Through informed consent, social workers must discuss confidentiality and its limits, including circumstances when disclosure of confidential information may be mandated by law.
In this Discussion, you explore the nature of confidentiality in the client-social worker alliance and how mandated reporting protects and empowers vulnerable populations.
– Review the Learning Resources on informed consent, confidentiality, and mandated reporting, as well as the NASW Code of Ethics.
– Consider the role of confidentiality in the therapeutic alliance and extenuating circumstances that may lead to confidentiality being broken.
**Describe** the importance of confidentiality when working with a client. How does the principle of confidentiality impact the therapeutic alliance? Then, explain your understanding of mandated reporting and how it empowers vulnerable populations.
– Imboden, R. (2020). [Exploring the relationship between ethics stress and burnoutLinks to an external site.](https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=sih&AN=142804707&site=eds-live&scope=site&custid=s6527200). _Journal of Social Work Values & Ethics_ , _17_ (1), 14–16.
– Moody, K. J., Pomerantz, A. M., Ro, E., & Segrist, D. J. (2021). [“Me too, a long time ago”: Therapist self-disclosure of past or present psychological problems similar to those of the clientLinks to an external site.](https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=pdh&AN=2021-70479-001&site=eds-live&scope=site&custid=s6527200). _Practice Innovations, 6_ (3), 181–188. https://doi.org/10.1037/pri0000151
– Reamer, F. G. (2016, February). [Eye on ethics: The complexities of client privacy, confidentiality, and privileged communicationLinks to an external site.](https://www.socialworktoday.com/news/eoe_0216.shtml). _Social Work Today_ . https://www.socialworktoday.com/news/eoe_0216.shtml
– Reamer, F. G. (2020, April). [Eye on ethics: Tele-social work in a COVID-19 world: An ethics primerLinks to an external site.](https://www.socialworktoday.com/news/eoe_0420.shtml). _Social Work Today_ . https://www.socialworktoday.com/news/eoe_0420.shtml
– Szczygiel, P. (2020). [In the field – to self-disclose or not to self-disclose: That question is too simpleLinks to an external site.](https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/practice/field-to-self-disclose-or-not-to-self-disclose-that-question-is-too-simple/). _The New Social Worker_ . https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/practice/field-to-self-disclose-or-not-to-self-disclose-that-question-is-too-simple/
– National Association of Social Workers. (2021). [_Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers_Links to an external site.](https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English). https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English