Deck 9: Responsibilities in Practice Settings

Question 1

When an ethical issue arises in practice, prudent social workers should document:

A) Just the decision that they made to resolve the ethical issue
B) The nature of the issue, who they consulted for help, and how they made a decision about how to respond
C) The sections of the NASW Code of Ethics that relate to competence and integrity
D) Just the client's view of the ethical issue and what the client thought should happen to resolve the issue

Answer 1

B

Question 2

How long should social workers keep client records before destroying them?

A) 2 years after termination of work with the client (unless the client is a minor)
B) 6 years after termination of work with the client (to ensure the statute of limitations has expired and the social worker can no longer be sued)
C) Forever
D) It depends on the client's needs, agency's policies and any laws governing the social worker's practice

Answer 2

D

Question 3

In terms of access to records, social workers should ordinarily:

A) Allow clients access to their records unless there is a professionally compelling reason to withhold them
B) Deny clients access to their records unless they have a court order allowing them access
C) Provide clients with a brief summary of their records, but not the full records
D) Limit access to records unless the client has completed services and has fully paid for them

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Within your agency, you feel that you are wasting time on one project when you could be doing more effective work on another project. In terms of the ethics of resource usage within an agency, Standard 3.09 of the NASW Code of Ethics suggests that you should:

A) Advocate with the agency to reallocate your time to work on projects that are more productive (so you don't waste agency resources)
B) Complete the first project even if it is a waste of time (so that you are following your agency's directions)
C) Ask clients to complain to your supervisor on your behalf so that you can do more meaningful work
D) Stop doing the first project so that you can do the second project, but do not tell your supervisors about the switch

Question 5

Before blowing the whistle for agency misconduct, it is prudent to develop credibility within the agency. Which of the following is an example of developing credibility within the agency?

A) Establishing a track record of being honest, following agency policies, and acting in a reliable manner
B) Telling many people that the agency is unethical
C) Reporting the agency to the media before trying to resolve issues within the agency
D) Dressing unprofessionally, being late for appointments, and speaking rudely to coworkers

Question 6

Before engaging in "civil disobedience," social workers should:

A) Advise allies not to help them (do it alone)
B) Ensure that the cause is important enough to take the risks of breaking the law
C) Engage in erratic behavior so that people will question their motives and mental capacity
D) Tell their supervisors that they are planning on going on a very long vacation

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of "civil disobedience"?

A) Organizing a community to build a new shelter for survivors of intimate partner abuse
B) Conducting research on the effects of the recent budget cuts to public education
C) Calling child protective services to report that parents have abandoned their young child
D) Letting the media know that you are providing social work services to clients from another country, even though state law prohibits providing services to anyone who is not a US citizen

Question 8

When engaging in civil disobedience, why is it ethically prudent to use "nonviolence" rather than "violence"?

A) Nonviolence is a more ethical means of advocacy than violence
B) The media will not pay attention to violent activities
C) When people engage in civil disobedience, they are not breaking any laws
D) Civil disobedience is never ethically justified

Question 9

Ideally, when should social workers write progress notes for meetings with clients?

A) Within 24 hours of meeting with a client
B) Within 7 days of meeting with a client
C) While meeting with a client or immediately after
D) Clients should write their own progress notes (not social workers)

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true about the ethics of billing clients?

A) Social workers should inform clients that they should tip at least 15 to 20% on top of their regular fees for services
B) Social workers may charge clients whatever they would like to charge and clients may decide to accept or reject services
C) Social workers should not tell clients how much they charge for services until the very last session with them
D) Social workers should let clients know how much they charge for services and the charges should be reasonable