Code of Ethics

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The set of guidelines and principles that define the moral and ethical standards of behavior for social workers.

Introduction to Social Work Ethics and Values: This topic provides an overview of the ethical principles and values that guide social work practice.
The NASW Code of Ethics: This topic explores the National Association of Social Workers' Code of Ethics, which provides guidance on ethical practice in social work.
Ethical Decision Making: This topic explores the process of making ethical decisions in social work practice, including the ethical dilemma and how to resolve it.
Confidentiality and Privacy: This topic explores the ethical principles and legal requirements regarding client confidentiality and privacy in social work.
Informed Consent: This topic explores the importance of obtaining informed consent from clients, including the ethical principles and legal requirements that govern this process.
Boundaries and Dual Relationships: This topic explores the ethical principles and legal requirements regarding boundaries and dual relationships with clients.
Cultural Competence: This topic explores the importance of cultural competence in social work practice, including the ethical principles and standards that guide this practice.
Professionalism and Ethics: This topic explores the importance of professionalism in social work practice, including the ethical principles and standards that guide professional behavior.
Social Justice: This topic explores the ethical principles and values that guide social justice in social work practice.
Ethics and Diversity: This topic explores the ethical principles and standards regarding diversity in social work practice, including issues related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability.
Professional Code of Ethics: This code is the foundation of ethical practices, principles, and standards for social workers. It lays out ethical guidelines that social workers must follow, maintain, and promote.
Organizational Code of Ethics: This code outlines ethical practices for organizations, agencies, and institutions, including social work agencies, where social workers are employed. This code applies to all employees of the organization, and the ethical standard of the agency must match or exceed that of individual social workers.
International Code of Ethics: This code accommodates the global perspectives of social work, and it aims to promote ethical practices and principles internationally. It ensures that social workers from different countries, cultures and backgrounds are adhering to the same ethical guidelines and standards.
Advocacy Code of Ethics: This code is designed for social workers who engage in advocacy efforts to promote social justice and human rights. It focuses on promoting the fundamental rights of individuals, communities, and populations, ensuring representation in policy-making processes, and achieving economic, political equity.
Specialty Code of Ethics: This code covers specific areas of social work practice, such as education, family, child welfare. It acknowledges these areas' unique ethical challenges, considerations, and practices and obligates social workers to follow the specific ethical principles and standards in the designated practice areas.
Employers and Supervisors' Code of Ethics: This code relates to ethical practices for social workers who are employers and supervisors in the social work industry. It ensures that the company policies, procedures, and ethical standards align with those of the social work profession, and their employees' social workers uphold the ethical principles and standards.
Research and Evaluation Code of Ethics: This code establishes ethical standards for social workers engaged in research and evaluation. It incorporates ethical principles, such as informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity, and safety while conducting investigations, analyzing results, and publishing their findings to protect human subjects.
Cultural and Linguistic Competency Code of Ethics: This code outlines the ethical practices promote for social workers to attend to cultural and linguistic differences in their interactions with clients. It recognizes the diversity of social work clients and their cultural backgrounds, insists on respecting these diverse cultures and languages, and requiring social workers to develop cultural competence.