Values and Ethics

Question 1

The NASW Code of Ethics is a set of rules that prescribe all behaviors in complexities of professional work and practice.

Answer 1

False: The NASW Code of Ethics is a guide for conduct in situations that have ethical implications.

Question 2

Clinicians should take additional steps if necessary to insure a client’s comprehension of the informed consent contract.

Answer 2

true

Question 3

The Code of Ethics (COE) does not cover research activities of social workers.

Answer 3

False: The Code of Ethics does cover research activities of social workers.

Question 4

Couples should be informed that both reconciliation and divorce are possible outcomes of therapy.

Answer 4

true

Question 5

The NASW COE is relevant to all social workers and social work students, regardless of their professional functions, the settings in which they work, or the populations they serve.

Answer 5

true

Question 6

Therapists should terminate services if they wish to pursue a social, financial, or sexual relationship with a client.

Answer 6

False: Engaging in social, financial, or sexual relationships with clients or
former clients is unethical and constitutes a boundary violation.

Question 7

The COE requires social workers to make every effort to foster the self-determination of clients.

Answer 7

true

Question 8

When treating a couple, the clinician only needs informed consent from one individual.

Answer 8

False: When treating a couple, the clinician needs informed consent from both individuals.

Question 9

A therapist should document that the therapist obtained informed consent for treatment from the client.

Answer 9

true

Question 10

The COE does not address the issue of fees.

Answer 10

False: The COE does address the issue of fees

Question 11

the therapist has an ethical duty to inform clients of possible outcomes of treatment.

Answer 11

true

Question 12

A therapist is obligated to break confidentiality if a client has thoughts of suicide.

Answer 12

False: A therapist is obligated to break confidentiality when the disclosure is
necessary to prevent serious, foreseeable, and imminent harm to the client.

Question 13

The COE requires respect for clients’ privacy.

Answer 13

true

Question 14

The COE does not offer guidelines for disputes among colleagues.

Answer 14

False: Section 2.04 of the COE makes recommendations regarding disputes among colleagues.

Question 15

A therapist is obligated to break confidentiality if there is a reasonable suspicion of child abuse.

Answer 15

true

Question 16

A therapist is required to exert privilege if a husband calls and asks for information about his wife’s treatment.

Answer 16

False: A therapist is required to maintain confidentiality if a husband calls
and asks for information about his wife’s treatment. Privilege refers to
the legal setting.

Question 17

According to the COE, you should only accept a job that you have the skills to perform.

Answer 17

true

Question 18

If a client has a plan to vandalize someone’s car, the therapist should warn both the victim and the police.

Answer 18

False: Social workers can disclose confidential information without client consent when the disclosure is necessary to prevent serious, foreseeable, and imminent harm to another individual. Property damage does not qualify.

Question 19

A therapist can make exceptions of confidentiality rules if the therapist’s clients are involved in a federally funded research project.

Answer 19

False: Social workers are required to maintain the confidentiality of clients, regardless of their participation in research projects.

Question 20

A therapist is obligated to break confidentiality if there is a reasonable suspicion of domestic violence.

Answer 20

False: Domestic violence does not require a report, whether it is suspected or known.

Question 21

A therapist can refuse to treat a client if the client practices a fundamental religion.

Answer 21

False: Social workers cannot refuse treatment to individuals on the basis of religion.

Question 22

Therapists have an ethical responsibility to take reasonable care in maintaining client confidentiality while using electronic devices.

Answer 22

true

Question 23

As a supervisor, you should not have sexual relationships with supervisees.

Answer 23

true

Question 24

If an HIV+ client discloses intent to have unprotected sex with someone, the therapist has a duty to warn that individual.

Answer 24

False: Social workers are required to maintain the confidentiality of HIV+
clients in regard to their sexual behavior.

Question 25

If a therapist is in doubt about practice, the COE requires that the therapist seek the advice of supervisors and colleagues.

Answer 25

true

Question 26

The term privilege relates to the release of information in a legal setting.

Answer 26

true

Question 27

Clients must give specific consent if the therapist plans to record the session.

Answer 27

true

Question 28

Social workers have no obligation to promote or facilitate research since the primary goal is to help people in need and address social problems.

Answer 28

False: Social workers have an obligation to promote and facilitate research
to contribute to the knowledge base of the profession. (please note that this
question was changed 5/10/16)

Question 29

If a lawyer subpoenas a client’s records without a release, the therapist should provide the information immediately.

Answer 29

False: If a lawyer subpoena’s a client’s records without a release, the
therapist should contact the client and exert privilege.

Question 30

Privilege is suspended if either the client or the therapist sues the other.

Answer 30

true

Question 31

As a supervisor, it is your ethical duty to make orderly and explicit arrangements regarding relationships with supervisees.

Answer 31

true

Question 32

Social workers who are teachers or field instructors should take steps to ensure that clients understand when services are being provided by a student.

Answer 32

true

Question 33

As a therapist, it is unethical to solicit the clients of a colleague.

Answer 33

true

Question 34

If a therapist receives a subpoena for testimony, the therapist should exert privilege and contact the client.

Answer 34

False: If a therapist receives a subpoena for testimony, the therapist should
contact legal counsel.

Question 35

The COE requires that social workers report unethical colleagues but does not specify who to report them to.

Answer 35

true

Question 36

A Tarasoff condition only exists if a client makes a serious threat to harm an identifiable victim.

Answer 36

False: A Tarasoff condition may exist if a family member contacts the therapist with the specific information or if in the social worker’s clinical judgment the threat exists.

Question 37

As a social worker, it is unethical to accept a job in an agency that is under public sanction from the NASW.

Answer 37

true

Question 38

Therapists have an ethical duty to collaborate or refer to improve and protect the health and well being of their clients.

Answer 38

true

Question 39

The COE prohibits social workers from criticizing the social work profession.

Answer 39

False: The COE encourages social workers to criticize the social work
profession.

Question 40

If a therapist receives a court order for client records and believes the release would be harmful to the client, the therapist should first advocate for no release or a limited release of information.

Answer 40

true

Question 41

The COE requires practitioners to become involved in establishing agency policy.

Answer 41

true

Question 42

Therapists should investigate child abuse if they have a reasonable suspicion.

Answer 42

False: Therapists should report child abuse if they have a reasonable
suspicion.

Question 43

Clinicians should not engage in dual or multiple relationships with
clients or former clients where there is a risk of potential harm to the client

Answer 43

true

Question 44

Ethically, students cannot be placed in agencies that are under sanction by the NASW.

Answer 44

true

Question 45

When dual or multiple relationships are unavoidable, clients are responsible for setting clear, appropriate boundaries.

Answer 45

False: When dual or multiple relationships are unavoidable, clinicians are
responsible for setting clear, appropriate boundaries.

Question 46

Therapists should avoid initiating treatment when there is a known dual relationship.

Answer 46

true

Question 47

Social workers are required to keep current on practice knowledge developments.

Answer 47

true

Question 48

When clinicians provide services to two or more people who have a relationship to each other (e.g., couples, family members), the clinicians should clarify the nature of their professional responsibilities to each individual.

Answer 48

true

Question 49

Clients should be informed of their rights regarding services.

Answer 49

true

Question 50

The COE does not require the identification of risks because they are unknown.

Answer 50

False: The COE does require the identification of risks, since they are often
foreseeable and known.

Question 51

When clinicians provide services to a couple, a “no-secrets” policy is required.

Answer 51

False: This is best practice, but is not required.

Question 52

Clinicians should under no circumstances engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with current clients, whether such contact is consensual or forced.

Answer 52

true

Question 53

Clinicians should only provide clinical services to individuals with whom they have had a prior sexual relationship after a reasonable amount of time has passed.

Answer 53

False: Clinicians should not provide services to individuals with whom they
have had prior sexual relationships.

Question 54

As a supervisor, you are responsible for the actions of your supervisees.

Answer 54

true

Question 55

Social isolation of an elder or dependent adult is a reportable offense.

Answer 55

true

Question 56

Client records are the property of the client.

Answer 56

False: Client records are the property of the clinician (or in some cases the
agency), but clients should have reasonable access to records concerning
the client.

Question 57

Parents have the right to access their child’s mental health records.

Answer 57

true

Question 58

The COE urges practitioners to adhere to commitments made to employing organizations.

Answer 58

true

Question 59

It is acceptable to receive compensation for the referral of professional clients.

Answer 59

False: It is unethical to receive compensation for the referral of professional
clients.

Question 60

Clinicians have an ethical duty to discuss with clients how insurance companies will manage their confidential information.

Answer 60

true

Question 61

The COE indicates that social workers should discuss their policies around the use of technology in the provision of services.

Answer 61

true

Question 62

Since clients have universal access to the internet, employing the use of technology is an acceptable practice for all clients.

Answer 62

False: According to the updated Code of Ethics, social workers should
assess a client’s suitability and capacity for electronic and remote services
when using technology to provide services.

Question 63

According to the COE, clients should provide consent before audio and/or video recordings of sessions are made or viewed with a third party.

Answer 63

true

Question 64

Clients do not need to provide consent when a supervisor or third party is observing the session.

Answer 64

False: Clients should provide informed consent before permitting observation by a third party.

Question 65

Clinicians may reasonably perform an internet search on a client without consent in order to prevent imminent and foreseeable harm to the client or others.

Answer 65

true

Question 66

Social workers do not need particular knowledge or skills to employ the use of technology in the provision of services.

Answer 66

False: Social workers who use technology in their provision of services
should ensure that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to engage in this practice in a competent manner, including special communication challenges, ability to implement strategies, etc.

Question 67

According to research, technology is used consistently across cultural groups, so social workers do not need to take a client’s cultural background into consideration when deciding on the use of technology in treatment.

Answer 67

False: Social workers should have an awareness of the socioeconomic and cultural differences among clients and how they may use electronic technology.

Question 68

The COE states that social workers should avoid communicating with clients using technology around personal or non-work-related purposes.

Answer 68

true

Question 69

A social worker should avoid accepting “friend” requests from clients on their personal Facebook page to avoid boundary confusion or harm to the client.

Answer 69

true

Question 70

Social workers can post personal information on professional websites or other social media sites without taking into consideration its potential effects on clients.

Answer 70

False: Social workers should be aware of how posting personal information
on professional websites or other social media may cause dual relationships,
boundary confusion, or harm to clients.

Question 71

When working with couples or families, agreements should be made regarding whether confidential information may be exchanged in person or electronically, among clients or with others outside of sessions.

Answer 71

true

Question 72

Social workers do not need to obtain informed consent before performing an internet search on a client.

Answer 72

False: Social workers should obtain consent before performing an internet search on a client UNLESS that search is needed to reasonably prevent imminent, foreseeable harm to self or others, or for other compelling professional reasons.

Question 73

Social workers do not necessarily need to use formal safeguards when using electronic communication.

Answer 73

False. Social workers should use applicable safeguards (encryption, firewalls, passwords, etc.) when using electronic communication such as email, online chat sessions, and texting.

Question 74

Social workers should NOT, under any circumstances, engage in sexual communication with a client through the use of technology or in person.

Answer 74

true

Question 75

Social workers should avoid unwarranted criticism of colleagues in electronic communication and on social media sites.

Answer 75

true