OCSWSSW Code of Ethics

Question 1

What are ‘Dual Relationships’?

Answer 1

A situations where multiple roles exist between a counsellor and a client

Question 2

What are the types of dual relationships?

Answer 2

Social; sexual; professional; business; communal (community); institutional (military)

They can sometimes be unavoidable I small or rural communities; including military settings, church, small towns, and LGBTT2SIQQA communities

Question 3

Principle VIII Sexual Misconduct: What is 8.8 Sexual Misconduct?

Answer 3

Sexual relations between college members and clients to whom the members have provided social work or social service work services, OTHER THAN psychotherapy or counselling services are prohibited for a period of 1 following termination of professional relationship

Question 4

Principle VIII Sexual Misconduct: What is 8.7 Sexual Misconduct?

Answer 4

Sexual relations between college members and clients to whom the member have provided psychotherapy and/or counselling services are prohibited at ANY TIME following termination of the professional relationship

Question 5

What does the Code of Ethics say about confidentiality?

Answer 5

Principle V: Confidentiality
• Core SW/SSW helping value and guiding principle
• Foundation for trust
• It is an ethical principle and a legal right
• Disclosure of personal information without consent can cause a sense of violation
• Grounds for malpractice suit, and/or termination

Question 6

What are the three criteria for informed consent?

Answer 6

1. Capacity
2. Comprehension of information
3. Voluntary
   * this frame park supports client self-determination*

Question 7

What is the scope of confidentiality?

Answer 7

• Within the agency
• Between worker and supervisor
• Among team members in same agency

Question 8

Are all dual relationships unethical?

Answer 8

No; sexual, exploitative and harmful dual relationships are unethical and illegal

Question 9

When must you breach confidentiality?

Answer 9

• Issues of safety, risk and harm
• Law mandates it
• Laws and procedures vary by province, state and country
• Suspected child’s use
• Elder abuse - the “silent” crime (Ontario only)
• Communicable disease (HIV, TB); report to health department

Question 10

What is regulatory social work?

Answer 10

• Every province has a legislation governing the practice of social work.
• Ontario was the last to provide legislation (1998)
• Every act regulates who can call themselves a social worker, the qualifications required to use the title, and penalties for not following the act or for unethical behavior. (Hick, 2006)
• In 1998 the Ontario government enacted the Social Work and Social Service Worker Act, which specifies that any professional that wants to use the title must be a member of the college of SW and SSWs of Ontario.
• Includes a complaints and disciplinary process that can result in a suspension or revocation of a license to practice. (Hick, 2006)

Question 11

What are the (24) guiding principles of the Code of Ethics?

Answer 11

• The SW should practice social work.
• The SW should engage in conscious use of self.
• The SW should maintain professional objectivity.
• The SW should respect human diversity.
• The SW should challenge social injustices.
• The SW should seek to enhance professional competence.
• The SW should do no harm.
• The SW should engage in evidence based practice.
• The SW should engage in value-guided and ethical practice.
• The SW should be concerned with the whole person.
• The SW should serve the most vulnerable members of society.
• The SW should treat the client with dignity.
• The SW should individualize the client.
• The SW should consider clients experts in their own lives.
• The SW should lend vision to the client.
• The SW should build on client strengths.
• The SW should maximize client participation.
• The SW should maximize client self determination.
• The SW should help the client learn self-directed problem solving skills.
• The SW should maximize client empowerment.
• The SW should protect client confidentiality.
• The SW should adhere to the philosophy of normalization.
• The SW should continuously evaluate the progress of the change process.
• The SW should be accountable to clients, agency, community, and the SW profession.

Question 12

When was the Ontario Social Work and Social Service Work Act in place?

Answer 12

1998

Question 13

What are Ethical dilemmas?

Answer 13

Choice by SSW between 2 or more relevant but contradictory directives

Question 14

What are ‘Ethics’?

Answer 14

A system of moral epic jokes and perceptions about right versus wrong and the resulting philosophy of conduct that is practiced by an individual, group, professional or culture

Question 15

What are ‘Values’?

Answer 15

The customs, standards of conduct, and principles considered desirable by a culture, a group of people, or an individual

(What is good and desirable)

Question 16

What are “Code of Ethics”?

Answer 16

A collection of aspirations, regulations and guidelines that represent the values of a group or profession to which it applies; a compilation of ethical standards

Question 17

What is an ‘Ethical problem?’?

Answer 17

Identifying the right thing to do in a given practice situation

Question 18

What is ‘Ethical decision making’?

Answer 18

The process of analyzing and assessing the ethical dilemmas of practice in order to develop ethically appropriate professional behaviour

Question 19

What are the (11) Code of Ethics?

Answer 19

1. A social worker or social service worker shall maintain the best interest of the client as the primary professional obligation.
2. A social worker or social service worker shall respect the intrinsic worth of the persons she or he serves in her or his professional relationships with them.
3. A social worker or social service worker shall carry out her or his professional duties and obligations with integrity and objectivity.
4. A social worker or social service worker shall have and maintain competence in the provision of a social work or social service work service to the client.
5. A social worker or social service worker shall not exploit the relationship with a client for personal benefit, gain or gratification.
6. A social worker or social service worker shall protect the confidentiality of all professionally acquired information. He or she shall disclose such information only when required or allowed by law to do so, or when clients have consented.
7. A social worker or social service worker who engages in another profession, occupation, affiliation or calling shall not allow these outside interests to affect the social work or social service work relationship with the client.
8. A social worker or social service worker shall not provide social work or social service work services in a manner that discredits the profession of social work or social service work or diminishes the public’s trust in either profession.
9. A social worker or social service worker shall advocate for workplace conditions and policies that are consistent with the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Practice of the OCSWSSW.
10. A social worker or social service worker shall promote excellence in his or her respective profession.
11. A social worker or social service worker shall advocate change in the best interest of the client, and for the overall benefit of society, the environment and the global community