Key Takeaways
- The NASW Code of Ethics is the primary ethical guide for social work practice in the United States
- The six core values are: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence
- Each core value is connected to an ethical principle that guides practice decisions
- The Code contains four sections: Preamble, Purpose, Ethical Principles, and Ethical Standards
- Ethical standards cover responsibilities to clients, colleagues, practice settings, profession, and broader society
- The Code of Ethics is enforced through NASW's professional review process and state licensing boards
- Social workers must stay current with updates and revisions to the Code
NASW Code of Ethics
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics is the primary ethical guide for professional social work practice in the United States. It sets forth the values, principles, and standards that guide social workers' professional conduct. The ASWB exam heavily tests your knowledge of the Code of Ethics, particularly how to apply ethical principles to clinical scenarios.
Structure of the Code
The NASW Code of Ethics consists of four sections:
- Preamble: Describes the social work profession's mission and core values
- Purpose of the Code: Explains why the Code exists and how it should be used
- Ethical Principles: Broad ethical principles based on the six core values
- Ethical Standards: Specific, enforceable standards organized by area of responsibility
The Six Core Values and Ethical Principles
| Core Value | Ethical Principle | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Social workers' primary goal is to help people in need and address social problems | Volunteering, pro bono work, service to underserved populations |
| Social Justice | Social workers challenge social injustice | Advocating for policy change, fighting discrimination, promoting access to resources |
| Dignity and Worth of the Person | Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of every individual | Treating all clients with respect regardless of background; supporting self-determination |
| Importance of Human Relationships | Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships | Strengthening relationships between people, families, and communities |
| Integrity | Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner | Being honest, responsible, and ethical in all professional interactions |
| Competence | Social workers practice within their areas of competence and develop professional expertise | Pursuing continuing education, seeking supervision, staying current with research |
Ethical Standards: Six Areas of Responsibility
1. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to Clients (1.01-1.16):
- Commitment to clients (primary obligation)
- Self-determination (respect the client's right to make their own decisions)
- Informed consent (explain services, risks, alternatives, right to refuse)
- Competence (practice within your expertise)
- Cultural awareness and social diversity
- Conflicts of interest
- Privacy and confidentiality
- Access to records
- Sexual relationships (prohibited with current clients; with former clients, must demonstrate no exploitation)
- Physical contact (only when not harmful)
- Sexual harassment (prohibited)
- Derogatory language (prohibited)
- Payment for services (fair, transparent)
- Clients who lack decision-making capacity
- Interruption and termination of services
2. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues (2.01-2.11):
- Respect, interdisciplinary collaboration, consultation, referral
- Addressing colleagues' impairment, incompetence, or unethical conduct
3. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities in Practice Settings (3.01-3.10):
- Supervision and consultation, education and training, performance evaluation
- Client records, billing, administration
4. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities as Professionals (4.01-4.08):
- Competence, personal values, dishonesty/fraud, impairment, misrepresentation
5. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to the Social Work Profession (5.01-5.02):
- Integrity of the profession, evaluation and research
6. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to the Broader Society (6.01-6.04):
- Social welfare, public participation, public emergencies, social and political action
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, what is a social worker's PRIMARY obligation?
Match each NASW core value with its corresponding ethical principle:
Match each item on the left with the correct item on the right
The NASW Code of Ethics states that sexual relationships with former clients:
Which of the following are among the six core values of the NASW Code of Ethics? (Select all that apply)
Select all that apply