The NASW Code of Ethics

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Introduction

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) delegates assembly approved significant updates to NASW code of ethics since the year 1996. The main reason behind the revision of the Ethics Codes was to tackle challenges encountered by social workers and clients’ increased use of technology. The ethics are faceted on the social work practice related to technology that has impacted many regulatory, training, and ethical standards. This paper illustrates the National Association of Social worker’ ethical standards to clients (Ibiricu & van der Made, 2020).

The ethical standards are more relevant to the professional activities carried out by the social workers who factor in digital and electronic technology to disseminate information to the public, deliver services to clients and communicate updates to the clients, among other functions. The standards comprise the Social worker’s ethical responsibilities to colleagues, clients, practice settings, professionals, the social work profession, and the wider society. The standards are enforceable only when those involved in the review of violations in standards make sounds judgments.

The social worker’s primary goal is to ensure clients’ comfort in the course of their service delivery through commitment. Still, sometimes situations supersede them hence requiring an upper hand, especially in law-related cases. Social workers should also make a safe space for clients to express themselves according to their set goals and give professional judgment when required. Informed consent, especially when dealing with clients, should be paramount during service provision.

Understanding illiterate clients and directing them, seeking permission from third parties to support client’s decision making and discussion of policies in line with the changes in technology in service provision. Social workers are supposed to conduct due diligence and ensure they can provide their services to clients with the competencies gained through education, training, and certification. Understand their customers’ cultural backgrounds, and avoid conflict of interest to counter interference with service delivery.

The codes of ethics improve the aggravated ethical challenges encountered previously, reflecting developments and improvements to the NASW code of ethics, setting accountability and moral standards to the social workers.

References

Ibiricu, B., & van der Made, M. L. (2020). Ethics by design: a code of ethics for the digital age. Records Management Journal, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print). https://doi.org/10.1108/rmj-08-2019-0044