Discussion 1: Informed Consent

Informed consent means that a social worker or another professional will not intervene in a client’s life or release confidential information about him unless that client has freely consented
— Dolgoff, Harrington, & Loewenberg, 2012, p. 160

Social workers are bound by the NASW Code of Ethics (2008) to provide informed consent with every client. A signed informed consent form protects the client and the social worker. It exemplifies the profession’s respect for its clients, allows for self-determination, and is the cornerstone of good social work practice. Sometimes, though, reporting of confidential information is mandated by law.

By Day 3

Post a description of the importance of confidentiality when working with your client. How does the principle of confidentiality impact the therapeutic relationship? Then, explain your understanding of mandated reporting and how it empowers vulnerable populations.

Support your posts with specific references to this week’s resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references

By Day 5

Respond to at least two colleagues, using personal experience or research to expand on his or her post.

Support your responses with specific references to this week’s resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

Discussion 2: Dual-Role Relationships

Consider this scenario:

You receive a hotline call at your mental health agency from a client requesting a same-day appointment. You are the only social worker available to work with clients at the time, as your coworker is out of town on vacation for 10 days. A 15-year-old boy struggling with depression (no suicidal ideation) and addiction calls asking for help. While you are gathering information over the phone, you realize that he happens to be the son of a friend. Do you continue the process, planning on providing him with services, or do you refer him to another mental health clinic that is over 30 miles away? Do you make him wait until your coworker returns? Do you contact his parents and tell them he called?

In certain geographical areas there may be limited resources and in turn a lack of opportunities for clients to obtain assistance. In some rural or otherwise isolated areas there might be situations that make it difficult to maintain ideal boundaries due to dual-role relationships. Dual-role relationships exist when a professional fills multiple roles at the same time, a situation that may be unavoidable in certain circumstances.

Understanding the significant impact of a dual-role relationship with a client is important in order to avoid harming the client. Further, recognizing the impact on the client and the relationship will assist in the creation of strong professional boundaries. In these situations, a social worker might feel his or her ability to maintain these boundaries is compromised or may even experience a value dilemma due to the existence of dual-role relationships.

Consider the importance of boundaries in a therapeutic relationship. Think about ways a social worker might violate the NASW Code of Ethics as it pertains to dual-role relationships. Is there ever a situation in which dual-role relationships are acceptable, or even preferable?

By Day 4

Post an explanation of how you might respond to the situation with the 15-year-old boy on the hotline. Include ways your decision may impact the client. Support your position with references to this week’s resources, professional experience, and additional research. How will you address a possible dual-role relationship?

Support your posts with specific references to this week’s resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two colleagues by explaining how your colleague’s decision contradicts or supports the NASW Code of Ethics as it pertains to dual-role relationships. In addition, provide a suggestion for how your colleague might balance the needs of the client while maintaining the NASW Code of Ethics regarding dual-role relationships.

Support your responses with specific references to this week’s resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

 Michael Smith RE: Discussion 1 – Week 2COLLAPSE

According to Kirst-Ashman & Hull, (2018), “Confidentiality is the ethical principal that workers should not share information provided by a client or about a unless that worker has the client’s explicit permission to do so (pg.426) While it seems like a simple concept confidentiality entails much more complexity and requires deeper understanding. Workers need to understand the concept of confidentiality to avoid soliciting unnecessary information while at the same time informing clients of the restrictions with respect to policy and law (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018). The therapeutic relationship can be impacted by confidentiality in either a positive or negative way depending on how confidentiality is handled within the agency. By protecting the privacy of clients, practitioners can enhance client trust and client/worker communication. Throughout the process of development, studies show that situations can occur within an individual’s environment which have potential to alter-development and in fact cause digression. As a former Child Abuse Investigator for Arkansas Department of Children and Family Services I have a complete understanding of the purpose of mandated reporting and I am fully aware of its value in protecting marginalized populations. For a long time, Arkansas has led the country in the number of children coming into Foster care. Not only does mandated reporting help in ensuring that the health and safety needs of alleged victims are protected but promises that the families are assessed and services are rendered to improve the family’s quality of life. These services ensure that children can remain in the home or aide in making reunification possible.

References:

Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull , G. H. (2018). Understanding Generalist Practice (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

 Nakesha Morgan RE: Discussion 1 – Week 2COLLAPSE

Week 2 Discussion 1 Ethics, Confidentiality and Informed Consent

The importance of confidentality when working with clients is to protect individuals information and or personal documents.  Some information that is expressed from clients can be sensitive and having confidentiality while displaying ethical behavior.  It helps to gain relationships with clients and personal relationships. 

Having signed consent from clietns regarding their information being released to other professionals is very important.  Making sure that consents and other information that need to be shared with clients should happen during initial meeting.  The signed consent protects the clients and the worker.  It will be considered a great social work practice (Mattison, 2018).

As it comes to confidentiality and being a mandated reporter some exceptions has to be made as it relates to children and elder clients.  It is considered legally to report any suspicion or neglect/abuse to children and elders within this vulnerable population.  It is still important to protect the clients confidential communications and documentation to certain extents.

As social workers it is a need to understand the confidentiality concept and also avoiding information that doesn’t need to be disclosed. Clients are informed of the restrictions as it reflects to the laws and policies that are put in place (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2008).

Mattison, M. (2018). Informed Consent Agreements: Standards of Care For Digital Social Work Practices. Journal of Social Work Education, 54(2)

Discussion 2

 Michael Smith RE: Discussion 2 – Week 2

According to Kirst-Ashman & Hull, (2018), “Dual Relationships occur when professionals assume two or more roles at the same time or sequentially with a client (pg.452). Due to the boundary issues created by establishing multiple relationships the Social Work Code of Ethics standard 1.06c prevents Social Workers from engaging in relationships with clients or former clients which presents the potential to cause harm (Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H. 2018). I reside in a rural area so I completely understand the struggle with boundaries, confidentiality and dual relationships mainly to the lack of resources within the area. Another issue that I have observed growing up in a small area is that standards of confidentiality are not the same. Many people feel that personal affairs are the affairs of the community since everyone knows one another on a more intimate level. According to Gonyea, Wright, & Kulkosky, (2014), “For many residents, this closeness is positive and helps build identity and sense of belonging to that community in terms of Us versus Them. Therefore, residents of rural areas are often hesitant to seek services from an outsider because they are not to be trusted, which can lead to multiple levels of personal and professional relationships. Further, persons from rural areas may resent an outsider offering assistance (pg.126)

 As it relates to the discussion, had I taken the crisis call of the 15-year-old boy despite being knowledgeable of the client’s family or being connected in anyway I would have continued to dialogue through the helping process, because by not doing so it would most likely cause more harm than good to the teenager. The underlying purpose of the field education experience is to enhance both my knowledge and understanding of the nine core competencies of the profession (Garthwait, 2017).The NASW Code of Ethics governs ethical decision making and, in this case, I would refer to both 1.06 Conflict of Interest and 1.07 Privacy & Confidentiality (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018). Faced with this ethical dilemma I would gather all the pertinent information possible before consulting with my supervisor with the hope that a referral could be made.

References:

Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull , G. H. (2018). Understanding Generalist Practice (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Garthwait, C. L. (2017). The social work practicum: A guide and workbook for students (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson

Gonyea, J. L. J., Wright, D. W., & Kulkosky, T. E. (2014). NAVIGATING DUAL RELATIONSHIPS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 40(1), 125–136. Retrieved from web-b-ebscohost-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=e1be6ee9-c064-4e33-a019-e3aff58c34de@sessionmgr102Hello Stacey,