Code Rights, Responsibilities, Accountabilities, and Code of Rights

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has drafted

encompassing ethical standards, mostly od their responsibilities as
association of social workers.

The NASW ethical standards are divided into six areas:

 Responsibilities to clients
 Responsibilities to colleagues
 Responsibilities to practice settings
 Responsibilities as professionals
 Responsibilities to Social work profession
 Responsibilities to broader societies.

1.)) Responsibilities to Clients

On the ethical responsibilities to clients, the ethical standards identified by NASW
compose o commitment to the clients, self- determination, informed consent, competence,
cultural competence and social diversity, conflict of interest, privacy, and confidentiality, access
to records, sexual relationships, physical contact, sexual relations, derogatory language, payment
for service, decision making capacity, interruption of service, and termination of service. A brief
description of each element is presented below.

Element Brief Description

Commitment to Uphold the well- being of clients. The clients, interest is primary.
Clients However, social workers’ accountability to the larger society or
specific legal obligations may on restricted occasions take over from
the loyalty owned to clients, and clients should be so guided.
Self- Determination Respect and promote the right of clients to self- determination and
assist clients in their efforts to identity and clarify their goals. Social
workers may limit clients’ right to self- determination when, in the
social workers’ professional judgement, clients’ actions or potential
actions pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent risk to themselves
for others.
Informed Consent Provide services to clients only in the context of a professional
relationship based, when appropriate, om valid informed consent.
Social workers should use clear and understandable language to
informed clients of the purpose of the services because of the
 requirements of a third- party payer, relevant costs, reasonable
alternatives, clients’ right to refuse or withdraw consent, and the time-
frame covered by consent.
Competence Provide services and represent themselves as competent only within
the boundaries of their education., training, license, certification,
consultation, received, supervised experience or other relevant
professional experience.
Cultural competence Understand culture and its function in human behavior and society,
and social diversity recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures, demonstrate
competence in the provision of services that are sensitive to clients’
cultures, and to differences among people and cultural groups.
Conflict of interest Be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the
exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgement. Social
workers should inform clients when a real or potential conflict of
interest arises and take reasonable steps to reasonable steps to resolve
the issue in a manner that makes the clients’ interest primary and
protects clients’ interests to the greatest extent possible.
Privacy and Respect Clients’ right to privacy. Social workers should not solicit
confidentiality private information from clients unless it is essential to providing
services o conducting social work evaluation or research. Once
primary information is shared, standards of confidentiality, apply.
Access to Records (a) Social workers should provide clients with reasonable access to
records concerning the clients. Social workers should limit clients’
access to their records, only in exceptional circumstances when there is
compelling evidence such access would cause serious harm to the
client.
Sexual Relationships Do not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with current
clients, whether such contact is consensual or forced.
Physical Contact Do not engage with physical contact with clients when there is a
possibility of psychological harm to the client because of the contact
(such as cradling or caressing clients). Social workers who engage in
appropriate physical contact with clients are responsible for setting
clear, inappropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries that govern
such physical contact.
Sexual Harassment Do not sexually harass clients. Sexual harassment includes sexual
advances, sexual solicitation, requests for sexual favors, and other
verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
Derogatory Ensure that the fees are fair, reasonable, and commensurate with the
Language services performed.
Clients who lack of When social workers act on behalf of clients who lack the capacity to
decision- making make informed decisions, social workers should take reasonable steps
capacity to safeguard the interests and rights of those clients.

Interruption of Social workers should make reasonable efforts to ensure continuity of

 Services services if services are interrupted by factors such as unavailability,
relocation, illness, disability, or death.
Termination of Terminate services to clients and professional relationships with the
Services when such services and relationships are no longer required or no
longer service the clients’ needs or interest. Take reasonable steps to
avoid abandoning clients who are still in need of services.

2.) Responsibility to Colleagues

On ethical responsibility to colleagues, the ethical standards identified by NASW
contain the following elements: respect, confidentiality, interdisciplinary collaboration, dispute
involving colleagues, consultation, referral for services, sexual relationships, sexual harassment,
impairment of colleagues, incompetence of colleagues, and unethical conduct of colleagues. A
brief description of each element is presented below:

Element Brief Description

Respect Treat colleagues with respect and represent accurately and fairly the
qualifications, views, and obligations of colleagues; avoid unwarranted
negative criticism of colleagues in communications with clients or with
other professionals; cooperate with social work colleagues and with
colleagues of other professions when such cooperation serves the well-
being of clients.
Confidentiality Respect confidential information shared by colleagues during their
professional relationships and transactions; ensure that such colleagues
understand social workers’ obligation to respect confidentiality and
any exceptions related to it.
Interdisciplinary Participate in and contribute and contribute to decisions that affect the
Collaboration well- being of clients by drawing on the perspectives, values, and
experiences of the social work profession.
Dispute Involving Do not take advantage of a dispute between a colleague and an
Colleagues employer to obtain a position or otherwise advance social workers’
own interests.
Consultation Seek the advice and counsel of colleagues whenever such consultation
is in the best interests of clients.
Referral Services Refer clients to other professionals when the other professionals,
specialized knowledge or expertise is needed to serve clients fully or
when social workers believe that they are not being effective or making
reasonable progress with clients and that additional service is required.
Sexual Relationships Social workers who function as supervisors or educators should not
engage in sexual activities or contact with supervisees, students,
trainees, or other colleagues over whom they exercise professional
authority.
 Sexual Harassment Do not sexually harass supervisees, students, trainees, or colleagues.

Impairment of Social workers who have direct knowledge of a social work colleague’s
Colleagues impairment that is due to personal problems, psychological distress,
substance abuse, or mental health difficulties and that interferes with
practice effectiveness should consult with the colleague in taking remedial
action.
Incompetence of Social workers who have direct knowledge of a social work colleague’s
Colleagues incompetence should consult with that colleague when feasible and assist
the colleague in taking remedial action.

Unethical Conduct of Take adequate measures to discourage, prevent, expose, and correct the
Colleagues unethical conduct of colleagues. Be knowledgeable about established
policies and procedures for handling concerns about colleagues’ unethical
behavior. Social workers should be familiar with national, state, and local
procedures for handling ethics complaints.

3.) Responsibilities to practice settings

On ethical responsibility in practice setting, the ethical standards identified by
NASW include: supervision and consultation, education and training, performance evaluation,
clients’ records, billing, client transfer, administration, continuing education and staff
development, commitment to employers, and labor- management disputes. A brief description of
each element is presented below:

Elements Description

Supervision and Evaluate supervisees’ performance in a manner that is fair and respectful.
consultation
Education and Social workers who function as educators, field instructors for students, or
Training trainers, should provide instruction only within areas of knowledge and
competence and should provide instruction based on the most current
information and knowledge available in the profession; should evaluate
students’ performance in a manner that is fair and respectful.
Performance Social workers who have responsibility for evaluating the performance of
Evaluation others should fulfill such responsibility in a fair and considerate manner
and on the basic of clearly stated criteria.
Client Records Ensure that documentation in records is accurate and reflects the services
provided; include sufficient and timely documentation in records to
facilitate the delivery of services and to ensure continuity of services
provided to clients in the future.
 Billing Social workers should establish and maintain billing practices that
accurately reflect the nature and extent of services provided and that
identify who provided the service in the practice setting.
Client Transfer (a) When an individual who is receiving services from another agency or
colleague contacts a social worker for services, the social worker should
carefully consider the client’s needs before agreeing to provide services.
To minimize possible confusion and conflict, social workers should
discuss with potential clients the nature of the clients’ current relationship
with other service providers and the implications, including possible
benefits or risks, of entering into a relationship with a new service
provider.
(b) If a new client has been served by another agency or colleague, social
workers should discuss with the client whether consultation with the
previous service provider is in the client’s best interest.
Administration (a) Social work administrators should advocate within and outside their
agencies for adequate resources to meet clients’ needs.
(b) Social workers should advocate for resource allocation procedures that
are open and fair. When not all clients’ needs can be met, an allocation
procedure should be developed that is nondiscriminatory and based on
appropriate and consistently applied principles. (c) Social workers who
are administrators should take reasonable steps to ensure that adequate
agency or organizational resources are available to provide appropriate
staff supervision.
(d) Social work administrators should take reasonable steps to ensure that
the working environment for which they are responsible is consistent with
and encourages compliance with the NASW Code of Ethics. Social work
administrators should take reasonable steps to eliminate any conditions in
their organizations that violate, interfere with, or discourage compliance
with the Code
Continuing Social work administrators and supervisors should take reasonable steps
Education and to provide or arrange for continuing education and staff development for
Staff all staff for whom they are responsible. Continuing education and staff
Development development should address current knowledge and emerging
developments related to social work practice and ethics.
Commitment to Social workers generally should adhere to commitments made to
Employer employers and employing organizations.
Labor- The actions of social workers who are involved in labor- management
management disputes, job actions, or labor strikes should be guided by the profession’s
disputes values, ethical principles, and ethical standards.

4.) Responsibilities as Professionals

On ethical responsibility as professionals, the ethical standards, identified by
NASW include: competence, discrimination, private conduct, dishonesty, fraus and deceit
impairment, misinterpretation, solicitation, and acknowledging credit. A brief description of each
element is presented below:
 Elements Descripiton

Competence Social workers accept responsibility or employment only on the basis of

existing competenceor the intention to acquire the necessary competence.
Discrimination Social workers should not practice, condone, facilitate, or collaborate with
any form of discrimination on the basis of the race, ethnicity, national
origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, age,
marital status , political belief, religion, immigration status, and mental or
physical disability.
Private Conduct Social workers should not permit their private conduct to interfere with
their ability to fulfill their professional responsibilities.
Dishonesty, Social workers should not participate in, condone, or be associated with
fraud, deceit dishonesty, fraud, or disception.
Impairment Social workers should not allow their own personal problems,
psychological distress, legal problems, substance abuse, or mental health
difficulties to interfere with their professional judgemnet and performance
or to jeopardize the best interests of people for whom they have a
professional responsibility.
Misinterpretation Social workers should make clear distinctions between statements made
and actions engaged in as a private individualand as a representative of
the social work profession, a professional social work organization, or the
social worker’s employing agency.
Solicitations Social workers should not egange in uninvited solicitation of potential
clients who, because of their circumstances, are vulnerable to undue
influence, manipulation or coercion.
Acknowledging (a) Social workers should take responsibility and credit, including
Credit authorship credit, only for work they have actually performed and to
which they have contributed.
(b) Social workers should honestly acknowledge the work of and the
contributions made by others.

5.) Responsibilities to Social Work Profession

On ethical responsibility to the social work profession, the ethical standards
identified by NASW consist of integrity of profession, and evaluation and research. A brief
description of each element is presented below:

Elements Description

Integrity of (a) Social workers should work toward the maintenance and promotion of
Profession high standards of practice.
(b) Social workers should uphold and advance the values, ethics,
knowledge, and mission of the profession. Social workers should protect,
enhance, and improve the integrity of the profession through appropriate
 study and research, active discussion, and responsible criticism of the
profession.
(c) Social workers should contribute time and professional expertise to
activities that promote respect for the value, integrity, and competence of
the social work profession. These activities may include teaching,
research, consultation, service, legislative testimony, presentations in the
community, and participation in their professional organizations.
(d) Social workers should contribute to the knowledge base of social work
and share with colleagues their knowledge related to practice, research,
and ethics. Social workers should seek to contribute to the profession’s
literature and to share their knowledge at professional meetings and
conferences.
(e) Social workers should act to prevent the unauthorized and unqualified
practice of social work.
Evaluation and (a) Social workers should monitor and evaluate policies, the
Research implementation of programs, and practice interventions.
(b) Social workers should promote and facilitate evaluation and research
to contribute to the development of knowledge.
(c) Social workers should critically examine and keep current with
emerging knowledge relevant to social work and fully use evaluation and
research evidence in their professional practice.
(d) Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should carefully
consider possible consequences and should follow guidelines developed
for the protection of evaluation and research participants. Appropriate
institutional review boards should be consulted.
(e) Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should obtain
voluntary and written informed consent from participants, when
appropriate, without any implied or actual deprivation or penalty for
refusal to participate; without undue inducement to participate; and with
due regard for participants’ well-being, privacy, and dignity. Informed
consent should include information about the nature, extent, and duration
of the participation requested and disclosure of the risks and benefits of
participation in the research.
(f) When evaluation or research participants are incapable of giving
informed consent, social workers should provide an appropriate
explanation to the participants, obtain the participants’ assent to the extent
they are able, and obtain written consent from an appropriate proxy.
(g) Social workers should never design or conduct evaluation or research
that does not use consent procedures, such as certain forms of naturalistic
observation and archival research, unless rigorous and responsible review
of the research has found it to be justified because of its prospective
scientific, educational, or applied value and unless equally effective
alternative procedures that do not involve waiver of consent are not
feasible.
(h) Social workers should inform participants of their right to withdraw
from evaluation and research at any time without penalty.
 (i) Social workers should take appropriate steps to ensure that participants
in evaluation and research have access to appropriate supportive services.
(j) Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should protect
participants from unwarranted physical or mental distress, harm, danger,
or deprivation.
(k) Social workers engaged in the evaluation of services should discuss
collected information only for professional purposes and only with people
professionally concerned with this information.
(l) Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should ensure the
anonymity of confidentiality of participants and of the data obtained from
them. Social workers should inform participants of any limits of
confidentiality, the measures that will be taken to ensure confidentiality,
and when any records containing research data will be destroyed.
(m) Social workers who report evaluation and research results should
protect participants’ confidentiality by omitting identifying information
unless proper consent has been obtained authorizing disclosure.
(n) Social workers should report evaluation and research findings
accurately. They should not fabricate or falsify results and should take
steps to correct any errors later found in published data using standard
publication methods.
(o) Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should be alert to
and avoid conflicts of interest and dual relationships with participants,
should inform participants when a real or potential conflict of interest
arises, and should take steps to resolve the issue in a manner that makes
participants’ interests primary.
(p) Social workers should educate themselves, their students, and their
colleagues about responsible research practices.

6.) Responsibility to the broader society

On ethical responsibility to the broader society, the ethical standards identified by
NASW comprise of social welfare, public participation, public emergencies, and social and
political actions. A brief description of each element is presented below:

Element Description

Social Welfare Social workers should promote the general welfare of society, from local
to global levels, and the development of people, their communities, and
their environments. Social workers should advocate for living conditions
conducive to the fulfillment of basic human needs and should promote
social, economic, political, and cultural values and institutions that are
compatible with the realization of social justice.
Public Participation Social workers should facilitate informed participation by the public in
shaping social policies and institutions.
Public Social workers should provide appropriate professional services in
 Emergencies public emergencies to the greatest extent possible.
Social and Political (a) Social workers should engage in social and political action that seeks
Action to ensure that all people have equal access to the resources, employment,
services, and opportunities they require to meet their basic human needs
and to develop fully. Social workers should be aware of the impact of
the political arena on practice and should advocate for changes in policy
and legislation to improve social conditions in order to meet basic
human needs and promote social justice. (b) Social workers should act to
expand choice and opportunity for all people, with special regard for
vulnerable, disadvantaged, oppressed, and exploited people and groups.
(c) Social workers should promote conditions that encourage respect for
cultural and social diversity within the United States and globally. Social
workers should promote policies and practices that demonstrate respect
for difference, support the expansion of cultural knowledge and
resources, advocate for programs and institutions that demonstrate
cultural competence, and promote policies that safeguard the rights of
and confirm equity and social justice for all people. (d) Social workers
should act to prevent and eliminate domination of, exploitation of, and
discrimination against any person, group, or class on the basis of race,
ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital
status, political belief, religion, or mental or physical disability.

Social Workers’ Code of Ethics

We, the members of the Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. believing:
  In the inherent dignity and worth of all persons, emanating from a Supreme Being who
directs our actions of love for one another;
 That every human being has natural and social rights, capacities and responsibilities to
develop his full potentials as a human being;
 In the human being’s capacity to change and recognize the value of unity in diversity,
individual differences and pluralism in society;
 In free men and women living in a free society where poverty, in all its forms, is neither a
fate nor a punishment, but is condition that can and must be changed;
 In the family as the basic unit of society and its vital role in the growth and development
of the individual, the family system, and community;
 That the government, the private sector and the public have a joint responsibility to
promote social justice and to ensure political, economic and social well-being of all
people;
 In the role of social workers as agents and advocates of change and in the promotion of
professionalism, responsibility and accountability; and,
 That our professional practice is deeply rooted in our cultural values,

DO HEREBY DECLARE that we will abide by these standards of ethical conduct:

Relative to Self and the Profession:
 To conduct myself in a manner consistent with the philosophy, principles, values, and
beliefs of the social work profession;
 To act at all times with honesty, openness, and transparency in all my professional
transactions;
 To constantly work towards my own professional advancement so as to contribute to the
promotion of the social work practice;
 To contribute time and professional expertise to activities that promote respect for the
integrity and competence of social workers;
 To share research knowledge and practice wisdom to colleagues and other professionals;
 To be vigilant and act to prevent the unauthorized and unqualified practice of social
work;
 To support the professional association duly organized and constitute for the professional
welfare of all social workers;
 To respond and volunteer my professional services in times of emergency;
 To uphold and protect the dignity and integrity of the profession; and
 To promote cultural values that will enhance the practice of social work profession.
Relative to Clients:
 To uphold the basic human rights of clients and serve them without discrimination;
 To accept primary responsibility and accountability to clients, respecting their right to
self-determination and observe confidentiality in all my dealings with them;
  To seek out the marginalized and ensure equal access to the resources, services and
opportunities required to meet basic needs; and,
 To expand choice and opportunity for all persons, with special regard for disadvantaged
or oppressed groups or persons.
Relative to Colleagues:
 To acknowledge and respect the professional expertise of other disciplines, extending all
necessary cooperation that will enhance effective services;
 To bring any violation of professional ethics and standards to the attention of the
appropriate bodies inside and outside the profession, and ensure that relevant clients are
properly involved; and
 To advocate with legislative and policy bodies for the welfare of all colleagues