Course Description
Utilizing the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics, this course explores social workers’ ethical responsibilities to clients, to colleagues, and within practice settings. More important, this course offers readers the opportunity to practice interpreting and applying NASW ethical standards to practice situations. After reading a set of ethical standards, readers are provided practice scenarios for which they select the “most appropriate” answers. It is important to note that because of the limitations of the online format, the scenarios reflect fewer complex dilemmas than are sometimes found in practice. Throughout the content, readers are reminded that details can be very important when it comes to law and ethics, and to consider the level of attention given to details by ethics committees, juries, and forensic experts. For anyone who has faced an ethical dilemma, it is clear that interpreting and applying ethical standards is rarely, if ever, simple or clear-cut. To complete the course, participants read online content, view a short web-based video clip, and complete vignette-based exercises before passing the online posttest and printing a certificate of completion.
Target Audience
This course is designed to be used toward the California LCSW license renewal requirement for six hours of law and ethics training every two years. The course is also appropriate for California ASWs as well as for BSW and MSW students nationwide.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, readers will be able to do the following:
- Identify ethical responsibilities and standards for professional conduct as detailed in the first three major sections of the NASW Code of Ethics.
- Identify social workers' ethical responsibilities to clients, to colleagues, and in practice settings.
- Be better able to interpret and apply NASW ethical standards to practice situations.
- Identify resources to assist with ethical decision-making in social work practice.