The principles and values that guide social work practice, including the NASW Code of Ethics.
Code of Ethics: The set of guidelines and principles that define the moral and ethical standards of behavior for social workers.
Ethical Decision-Making: The process of making decisions using ethical principles and values, and taking into account the potential impact on clients and other stakeholders.
Confidentiality: The obligation to keep client information private and not disclose it to anyone outside of the professional relationship, except under certain specific circumstances.
Informed Consent: The process of obtaining a client's agreement to participate in a particular treatment or intervention, after explaining the risks and benefits of that intervention.
Boundaries: The ethical limits of the professional relationship between a social worker and a client or other stakeholders, including issues of dual relationships, personal disclosure, and physical contact.
Cultural Competency: The ability to understand, appreciate, and work effectively with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, and to avoid imposing one's own cultural values on those clients.
Social Justice: The obligation to work towards fairness, equality, and empowerment of marginalized and oppressed populations, and to challenge social and economic injustice.
Professional Boundaries: The ethical duties and responsibilities that define the limits of appropriate behavior for social workers, with respect to clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders.
Dual Relationships: The situation where a social worker has a personal or professional relationship with a client outside of the professional relationship, which may create ethical conflicts and risks.
Values and Ethics: The personal and professional values that guide social workers in their work, and the ethical principles that underpin those values.