Professional Values & Ethics

Question 1

Q
A social worker is leaving one agency to work at another. In order to address this situation ethically, the social worker should:

Not inform clients in order to avoid causing them undue stress and harm

Advise clients that it would be best for them to transfer services to the social worker’s new agency to avoid any interruptions in treatment

Inform clients of appropriate options for the continuation of services and the benefits and risks of the options

Discontinue services to clients immediately

Answer 1

Inform clients of appropriate options for the continuation of services and the benefits and risks of the options

Question 2

Question
Which of the following is NOT a stated purpose of the professional code of ethics?

A.To be used by malpractice insurance companies to mitigate liability
B.To summarize the values on which the profession is based
C.To be used by the profession to determine whether social workers have acted unethically
D.To serve as a guide to socialize new social workers in the field

Answer 2

To be used by malpractice insurance companies to mitigate liability

Question 3

**
Question
A client has been in therapy for about 4 months and has made substantial progress toward achieving his goals. The social worker and client believe that continued treatment would be beneficial. However, the client recently lost his job and has been informed that his insurance coverage, which has been paying for the services, will end immediately. The client states that he cannot afford to pay the rate paid by the insurance company. In order to facilitate continued progress, the social worker should:**

A.Suggest that the client now only pay the amount of the copay and keep track of what would have been paid by an insurance company so a payment plan can be put in place once the client is employed again

B.Brainstorm with the client about services that the client can provide in exchange for treatment

C.Terminate therapy immediately, but with the understanding that it will begin immediately upon enrollment in a new insurance plan

D.Discuss a feasible amount to be paid by the client while he is uninsured

Answer 3

Discuss a feasible amount to be paid by the client while he is uninsured

Question 4

Q
A social worker cannot limit a client’s right to self-determination in the following circumstances EXCEPT:

A.When a client’s actions violate policies set forth by the social worker’s agency

B.When the social worker does not believe that a client is making appropriate decisions

C.When a client poses a serious and imminent risk to himself or herself or others

D.When there are alternatives that will enhance the client’s well-being

Answer 4

When a client poses a serious and imminent risk to himself or herself or others

Question 5

Q
A social worker’s ex-husband comes to her agency for therapy services. The ex-husband asks that the social worker provide these services because she is aware of his history and he feels comfortable speaking to her about his problems. They have been divorced for 15 years. The social worker refuses. Based on the professional code of ethics, this action by the social worker is:

A.Unethical because it has been more than 10 years since they were married

B.Ethical because she had a prior sexual relationship with the client

C.Unethical because the social worker did not respect the client’s wishes with regard to the provision of treatment

D.Ethical because the social worker does not want the client to know anything about her current life circumstances

Answer 5

Ethical because she had a prior sexual relationship with the client

Question 6

Q
Which of the following does NOT have to be done in order for a social worker to provide services in areas that are new to him or her?

A.The social worker must engage in appropriate study of the area.

B.The social worker must receive supervision from someone who is competent in the area.

C.The social worker must receive training and consultation in the area as needed.

D.The social worker must add it to his or her résumé to reflect practice in this area.

Answer 6

The social worker must add it to his or her résumé to reflect practice in this area.

Question 7

Q
Which of the following statements is TRUE about the relationship between ethical and legal actions of social workers?

A.All legal behaviors are ethical.
B.All illegal behaviors are unethical.
C.Some behaviors are legal, but unethical.
D.A behavior that is illegal can never be ethical.

Answer 7

Some behaviors are legal, but unethical.

Question 8

Q
A social worker who does not provide adolescent services makes referrals to a very reputable agency in her community when she is contacted for such services. In exchange for each of these referrals,the agency provides a $50 gift card to the social worker. This practice is:

A.Known as “fee splitting” and is ethical
B.Known as “collateral contact” and is unethical
C.Known as “collateral contact” and is ethical
D.Known as “fee splitting” and is unethical

Answer 8

Known as “fee splitting” and is unethical

Question 9

Q
A client who has been paying a reduced fee to a social worker in private practice inherits a lot of money from a relative’s estate. The client, who was previously poor, is now extremely wealthy and very appreciative of the social worker’s services. The client would like to pay the social worker the amount that was discounted for prior services. This action is:

A.Ethical as long as the client only pays the amount of the discount and no more

B.Ethical because the client now has the ability to pay for the prior services

C.Unethical because the social worker agreed to a reduced fee for those services

D.Unethical unless the social worker can determine that the client can afford this payment for prior services

Answer 9

Unethical because the social worker agreed to a reduced fee for those services

Question 10

Q
An agency is experiencing financial hardship and social workers are upset because they have not been able to meet with their supervisors in several weeks because the supervisors have had to assist with other agency administrative tasks. In this situation, the social work administrator should:

A.Explain to social workers that this situation is not ideal, but necessary in order for the agency to continue to operate

B.Terminate services to several clients in order to free up social work staff to provide supervision

C.Explore the use of peer supervision

D.Instruct the staff to pay for outside supervision if affordable

Answer 10

Explore the use of peer supervision

Question 11

Q
A private pay client has made substantial progress and achieved all stated treatment goals, but wants to continue to see a social worker “in case something comes up.” In this situation, the social worker should:

A.Continue to see the client at the regular fee in order to respect the client’s self-determination

B.Begin termination with the client

C.Continue to see the client, but reduce the fee since the treatment goals have been achieved

D.Refer the client to another social worker because it appears that the client may have become dependent on the social worker

Question 12

Q
A private pay client has made substantial progress and achieved all stated treatment goals, but wants to continue to see a social worker “in case something comes up.” In this situation, the social worker should:

A.Continue to see the client at the regular fee in order to respect the client’s self-determination

B.Begin termination with the client

C.Continue to see the client, but reduce the fee since the treatment goals have been achieved

D.Refer the client to another social worker because it appears that the client may have become dependent on the social worker

Answer 12

Begin termination with the client

Question 13

Q
Which of the following does NOT have to occur in order for a social worker who is in private practice to terminate services to a client who is not paying an overdue balance?

A.A safety assessment to determine if the client is a danger to self or others

B.A signed agreement that the client is willing to be seen by another social worker

C.Documentation of conversations in which the nonpayment has been discussed with the client

D.Billing for overdue balances

Answer 13

A signed agreement that the client is willing to be seen by another social worker

Question 14

Q
A social worker who is in a private mental health practice recently earned a doctorate from an accredited university in an unrelated field. She adds “Dr.” to her name on her private practice business card. This practice is:

A.Unethical since it is not related to mental health treatment

B.Ethical since she earned a doctorate that entitles her to list it

C.Unethical unless she discloses that it is in another field when asked

D.Ethical since it was from an accredited university

Question 15

Q
A social worker who is in a private mental health practice recently earned a doctorate from an accredited university in an unrelated field. She adds “Dr.” to her name on her private practice business card. This practice is:

A.Unethical since it is not related to mental health treatment

B.Ethical since she earned a doctorate that entitles her to list it

C.Unethical unless she discloses that it is in another field when asked

D.Ethical since it was from an accredited university

Answer 15

Unethical since it is not related to mental health treatment

Question 16

Question
Which of the following is NOT one of social work’s core values as stated in the professional code of ethics?

A.Service
B.Integrity
C.Loyalty
D.Competence

Answer 16

Loyalty

Question 17

Q
A social worker receives a court order to provide records of a former client. In addition to submitting the records, the social worker should:

A.Attempt to contact the client to provide information about the disclosure

B.Provide the court with the client’s current contact information to assist with notification

C.Seek consultation and supervision

D.Determine from the judge if notifying the client about the disclosure is allowed under the court order

Answer 17

Attempt to contact the client to provide information about the disclosure

Question 18

Q
Which of the following is NOT an exception to a social worker’s duty to protect confidentiality?

A.When a client poses a serious risk to self and others
B.When child abuse is suspected
C.When a client has violated criminal laws and has not been properly prosecuted
D.When there is an imminent threat by a client to an identifiable third party

Answer 18

When a client has violated criminal laws and has not been properly prosecuted

Question 19

Q
A social worker receives a subpoena from the courts in the mail for a former client’s records. In this situation, a social worker should:

A.Immediately send in the original records to the courts
B.Prepare a summary of the records to send in immediately
C.Claim privilege to protect the confidentiality of the client
D.Ignore the subpoena because it relates to a former client and is not relevant

Answer 19

Claim privilege to protect the confidentiality of the client

Question 20

Q
A client abruptly stops coming to therapy after the sixth session. She shows up at the office several weeks later demanding a copy of her records. The social worker does not believe that the information in the record could cause harm to the client, but denies access because the client did not provide any reason for the abrupt termination or reason for wanting the copies. The actions by the social worker are:

A.Unethical because the client should have access to his or her record under these circumstances

B.Ethical because the reason for the release must be disclosed to the social worker

C.Ethical because the client terminated without notice

D.Unethical because the client is always able to access his or her record under any circumstances

Answer 20

Unethical because the client should have access to his or her record under these circumstances

Question 21

Q
A social worker in private practice designs a standard intake form that includes questions about the client’s demographic information including age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, education, and drug/alcohol use. This form is:

A.Ethical since it contains important information for the social worker to know in order to work with the client effectively

B.Ethical since all of this information will be kept confidential

C.Unethical since this information may not be needed for treatment

D.Unethical unless the social worker makes it clear that the client has the choice as to whether to complete it

Answer 21

Unethical since this information may not be needed for treatment

Question 22

Q
A social worker sees that a colleague is distracted when interacting with clients and is showing up for appointments late. The social worker learns that this behavior began several weeks earlier, after the death of her colleague’s husband. In this instance, the social worker should:

A.Give the colleague additional time to grieve and monitor the colleague’s actions to see if the behavior subsides on its own

B.Speak to a supervisor to see if the colleague’s workload could be reduced for a period of time

C.Contact the human resources department to see if there are employee assistance services available

D.Speak to the colleague directly about the observations to see if additional assistance is needed

Answer 22

Speak to the colleague directly about the observations to see if additional assistance is needed

Question 23

Q
A client’s insurance company threatens to discontinue to pay for services immediately if it does not receive the current treatment goals of the client. The social worker sends these goals without written consent from the client. This action by the social worker is:

A.Ethical since the client would not be able to continue services without the insurance payments

B.Unethical because such a release requires written consent

C.Ethical since treatment goals can be sent to an insurance company without written consent

D.Unethical or ethical, depending upon whether the social worker spoke to the client about insurance requirements at the beginning of treatment

Answer 23

Unethical because such a release requires written consent

Question 24

Q
A social worker is running a group with adolescents. One of the group members calls the social worker because she is very upset that something that she said in group was disclosed to others in her school by another group member. The BEST method for the social worker to address this situation is to:

A.Individually contact the group member who disclosed the information to discuss the concern

B.Terminate the group member who disclosed the information in order to create a “safe” environment for the other participants

C.Suggest that the upset group member bring up her concern at the next group session

D.Develop a confidentiality agreement to be signed by all members at the next group session

Answer 24

Suggest that the upset group member bring up her concern at the next group session

Question 25

Q
A deceased client has:

A.All of the same rights to confidentiality as a living client, with the exception of billing records

B.Some of the same rights to confidentiality as a living client as decided by the executor of the estate

C.None of the same rights to confidentiality as a living client

D.All of the same rights to confidentiality as a living client

Answer 25

All of the same rights to confidentiality as a living client

Question 26

Q
Which of the following statements is true?

A.Consent and assent have the same legal meaning.

B.When treating those who lack capacity to provide informed consent, consent should be obtained by the responsible third party and assent should be obtained by the client.

C.All clients must receive social work services voluntarily.

D.There is no need to get consent to audiotape or videotape services because it is always permitted if a client signs a consent form.

Answer 26

When treating those who lack capacity to provide informed consent, consent should be obtained by the responsible third party and assent should be obtained by the client.

Question 27

Q
A social worker providing psychotherapy in a mental health agency is concerned about protecting the confidentiality of client records. In order to provide the greatest protection for clients while adhering to best clinical practices, the social worker should:

A.Keep all psychotherapy notes in the client file in a secure and locked location

B.Take the psychotherapy notes home to ensure that they are only seen by the social worker

C.Store the psychotherapy notes in a secure and locked location separate from the client file

D.Not keep any documentation, including psychotherapy notes

Answer 27

Store the psychotherapy notes in a secure and locked location separate from the client file

Question 28

Q
In instances when clients are not literate or are having difficulty understanding the primary language used in the practice setting, all of the following are acceptable practices by a social worker EXCEPT:

A.Using a family member to translate information into the client’s native language

B.Assessing the client’s comprehension to determine what additional informed consent procedures are needed

C.Reading documents to the client and providing verbal explanations to written policies as needed

D.Using a qualified interpreter service when possible to translate information into the client’s native language

Answer 28

Using a family member to translate information into the client’s native language

Question 29

Q
A woman who uses American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate comes to a community-based agency to see a social worker who is deaf. The woman is in need of mental health services that are not provided at this agency. In this situation, the social worker should:

A.Provide the services in order to meet the client’s need since it is unlikely that she will be able to find a social worker in the mental health agency who knows ASL

B.Contact a mental health agency with the woman to see what accommodations are available

C.Provide whatever services are available in the agency so the woman gets some help

D.Make a referral to an advocacy organization for those who are deaf to see if they can assist

Answer 29

Contact a mental health agency with the woman to see what accommodations are available

Question 30

Question
An agency hires a consultant to assist a social worker to become more competent in addressing substance use issues. The social worker shows the consultant a few client assessment documents and case notes to provide needed background on the kinds of substance use problems that the social worker is facing in practice. The social worker’s actions are:

A.Unethical because the clients need to consent to disclosure of this information

B.Ethical because the consultant was hired by the agency and therefore can see this information without client consent

C.Ethical because this information is accessible to anyone in the agency and available for teaching or training purposes

D.Unethical because the social worker should have shown the records of all clients with substance use problems to give the consultant complete information related to all the problems that the social worker is treating

Answer 30

Unethical because the clients need to consent to disclosure of this information

Question 31

Question
A social work administrator is having trouble finding a group home manager for a new program scheduled to open in 2 weeks. Further delays in locating staff will delay clients from moving into the program. The administrator temporarily hires her niece, who just graduated with a social work degree, for this position. This action is:

A.Ethical because the niece is clearly qualified for the position
B.Unethical because this is a conflict of interest
C.Ethical because the position is temporary and ensures clients get the services needed
D.Unethical because clients will experience staff turnover when a new manager is hired

Answer 31

Unethical because this is a conflict of interest

Question 32

Question
Which of the following inhibits the establishment of a therapeutic relationship?

A.A universalism approach or the acceptance of a standard set of norms or standards

B.A pluralistic approach that values cultural pluralism

C.Clients examined as being influenced by their environment with problems being seen as resulting from role ambiguity rather than individual deficits

D.Flexible treatment approaches that take into account the subjective realities of clients

Answer 32

A universalism approach or the acceptance of a standard set of norms or standards

Question 33

Question
Which of the following theories is used to explain why clients in battering relationships will not leave until the benefits exceed the risks?

A.Psychoanalytic
B.Problem solving
C.Functional
D.Social exchange

Answer 33

Social exchange

Question 34

Question
Upon admission, a client reports that he has always feared disapproval and rejection from others in his life. Several weeks later, the client appears anxious and worried. When asked about his behavior, he states that he feels judged by the social worker and that the social worker is being critical of him when he sees her. The client’s feelings are an example of:

A.Countertransference
B.Psychosis
C.Paranoia
D.Transference

Answer 34

Transference

Question 35

Question
A client expresses an attraction to the social worker during a therapy session. In order to address this issue ethically, the social worker should:

A.Explore it as a therapeutic issue, seek supervision, and document the disclosure in the client file

B.Ignore the overture and hope that the client does not express this attraction again

C.Immediately refer the client to another social worker in the agency because the current social worker cannot be objective once such a disclosure has occurred

D.Terminate services immediately in case a personal relationship develops

Answer 35

Explore it as a therapeutic issue, seek supervision, and document the disclosure in the client file

Question 36

Question
All of the following are true about empathetic communication EXCEPT:

A.Empathetic communication bridges the gap between the social worker and client by establishing rapport.

B.Empathetic communication is nonjudgmental, accepting, and genuine.

C.Empathetic communication is verbal communication in which the client is engaged in oral problem solving and processing of new information.

D.Empathetic communication decreases defensiveness and encourages a more rational discussion of problems.

Answer 36

Empathetic communication is verbal communication in which the client is engaged in oral problem solving and processing of new information.

Question 37

Question
A woman who is in a relationship that is physically abusive would like to begin couples counseling because she believes that helping her boyfriend to see her point of view may assist in decreasing the violence. In order to appropriately address this request, the social worker should:

A.Suggest that she ask her boyfriend to come to the next session

B.Ask to contact the boyfriend to assess his interest in receiving couples counseling

C.Explain to the woman that couples counseling should not take place at this time, given the physical abuse

D.Contact the boyfriend about coming in for individual counseling with the suggestion that there be joint sessions with the two of them at times

Answer 37

Explain to the woman that couples counseling should not take place at this time, given the physical abuse

Question 38

Question
A client is starting a new business and really needs a partner to assist with start-up activities. Without this help, the client will experience extreme financial hardship because she will not be able to bring in needed income to her household. The social worker has a lot of business expertise that would be valuable to the client. In this situation, the social worker should:

A.Continue to serve the client, providing only emotional support during this crisis

B.Terminate services to the client to assist with the start-up business so that the client does not experience financial loss

C.Continue to serve the client, providing financial support in addition to emotional support during this crisis

D.Stop billing the client for a short period while assisting the client with business start-up, with the understanding that this arrangement is time limited

Answer 38

Continue to serve the client, providing only emotional support during this crisis

Question 39

Question
Upon intake, a woman tells a social worker that she was brutally beaten by her boyfriend 6 months ago, but it was an isolated incident and there have been no further acts of violence. Since that time, he has been remorseful and attentive. In this situation, the social worker should FIRST:

A.Tell the client that the boyfriend’s behavior was unacceptable

B.Document the incident in the assessment, but do not include as a treatment issue since no further incidents have occurred

C.Explore with the client the degree to which the incident affected her relationship with her boyfriend

D.Evaluate the need for medical and protective services

Answer 39

Evaluate the need for medical and protective services

Question 40

Question
Which of the following is NOT a dual relationship for a social worker?

A.Providing therapy to a friend
B.Hiring a client to do repairs on the social worker’s home
C.Being an agency supervisor to a family member
D.Going to the same outside clinical supervisor as a friend

Answer 40

Going to the same outside clinical supervisor as a friend

Question 41

Question
At the beginning of the initial session, a client states, “I am so glad that I am here because I really need you to tell me how to solve my problems.” The social worker should:

A.Clarify the social worker’s role in the problem-solving process with the client

B.Not respond to the comment, but make a note to clearly delineate the social worker’s role in the treatment plan

C.Praise the client for her willingness to be open to feedback

D.Suggest to the client that her need to solve her own problems may be an area to explore further in therapy

Answer 41

Clarify the social worker’s role in the problem-solving process with the client

Question 42

Q
Which of the following is NOT a social work role?

A.Being a client’s support system
B.Advocating for change to address a social problem
C.Assisting with locating services for a client
D.Educating a client to assist with problem solving

Answer 42

Being a client’s support system

Question 43

Question
Which of the following is the MOST critical factor for the delivery of effective culturally competent services?

A.The social worker and client must be from the same cultural group.

B.The social worker must have self-awareness about cultural differences with the client.

C.The social worker must have worked with a cultural group for at least 5 years.

D.The social worker must have a supervisor who is from a different cultural group.

Answer 43

The social worker must have self-awareness about cultural differences with the client.

Question 44

Fee Splitting

Answer 44

Company takes a portion of the social worker/agency’s generated fees

unethical - because conflict of interest

Question 45

Consent Vs. Assent

Answer 45

Consent - Can only be given if 18 or older

Assent - Agreement of someone not able to give legal consent

Question 46

Ethical/Legal Issues - 4 Categories

Answer 46

-Legal & Ethical

-Not legal & not ethical

-Legal, but not ethical

-Ethical, but not legal

Question 47

SW Core Values - 6

Answer 47

-Service
-Social Justice
-Dignity/worth of person
-Importance of human relationships
-Integrity
-Competence

Question 48

Universalism

Answer 48

There is one acceptable norm/standard for everyone

Question 49

Transference

Answer 49

-redirection of client’s feelings for a specific person - to the social worker

EX - errotic attraction, rage, mistrust, hatred, extreme dependence

Question 50

Countertransference

Answer 50

-Redirection of SW’s feelings toward a client