MSW Comprehensive Exam with 100%
Correct Answers
-summarized broad ethical standards
-is the moral compass for social work professions
-holds the social work profession accountable - ANSWER-The NASW Code of Ethics
service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human
relationships, integrity, competence - ANSWER-Social Work Values
- ANSWER-Ethical principles associated with each social work value
Ethical fading, self deception and awareness - ANSWER-Professional values vs
Personal values
-3 categories of responsibilities
-Key responsibilities of the social worker
-Application of standards to scenarios - ANSWER-Practicing ethical standards
-Commitment to clients
-Self-determination
-Informed consent
-Competence
-Cultural competence and social diversity
-Conflicts of interest
-Privacy and confidentiality
-Limitations of client confidentiality
-Duty to warn (Tarasoff) - ANSWER-Social workers' ethical responsibilities to clients
-Respect
-Confidentiality
-Sexual relationships and harassment
-Impairment, incompetence, or unethical behavior of colleagues - ANSWER-Social
Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues
-Competence
-Discrimination - ANSWER-Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities as Professionals
-Protection of human subjects
-Voluntary participation
-Informed consent
,-Confidentiality
-Protection of vulnerable/at-risk populations, etc. - ANSWER-Ethical Responsibility in
Research and Program Evaluation
-Supporting thorough and accurate assessment and treatment planning
-Providing competent service delivery
-Supporting continuity and coordination of services among settings and care providers
-Documenting supervisory activities to show contacts/content in case of challenge,
personnel problems, or litigation
-Providing data for program evaluation activities
-Allowing for accountability- information for 3rd party payors, regulatory bodies, etc. -
ANSWER-Functions of Documentation
-Calls for accurate documentation and protection of privacy of all involved parties noted
in the client record
-Gives clients the right to access own records (if this occurs there is a duty to protect
privacy of others noted in the record)
-Electronic records also have to have safeguards in place to protect confidentiality and
privacy
-Storage of records needs to protect privacy and confidentiality
-Records need to be kept for at least several years after termination in a secure, private
location. - ANSWER-Code of Ethics & Documentation
-Be thorough but don't overdo it. Think about what you have to document to
demonstrate activities and facilitate services as well as protecting and serving all parties
involved (assessment and treatment planning, informed consent, actual contact
information (including cancelled and failed appointments)termination activities,
supervisors should document both supervision actions and consults.)
-Too little vs. too much: document enough information when handling a crisis to show
your assessment, thought process, decision. Don't document a lot when you are
documenting things like a client's fantasy (this could be used against him/her)
-Document enough to fulfill the function of the note and the job. In a crisis, document
smarter vs. longer.
Personal notes and emails should also be written as if they are public: they can be
subpoenaed.
-Families and couples: may want to have one common file and separate files in which
priv - ANSWER-Content of Documentation
-Choose words carefully and support your conclusions; avoid defamatory language.
Write remembering there is an audience.
-Be clear and specific; be careful with abbreviations and do not use ones that are not
approved or will be misunderstood
-Qualify your statements- "appears to be", "seems to be"
-Avoid libelous writing - ANSWER-Language and Terminology
,-Records need to be thorough and timely; record AFTER you have delivered the service
not before.
-Document in the required window (during the contact, immediately after, within 24
hours)- delayed documentation can be used against you.
-Use proper grammar so you can maintain credibility
-Acknowledge errors: either write a new note with correct information or strike out error,
insert correct information. Date and initial change. - ANSWER-Credibility
-There is no such thing as complete confidentiality: always assume records will be seen
-Subpoenas: know the difference for one requesting records vs. one requesting a
personal appearance (some organizations send the person responsible for maintaining
the record- i.e., medical records)
-If you receive a subpoena you can try to have it withdrawn or the information requested
narrowed
-Do not release information without a court order or a consent - ANSWER-Access to
Records and Documents
-Be sure you are familiar with all records that pertain to your practice (HIPAA, FERPA,
JCAHO, etc)
-Work in compliance with these expectations - ANSWER-Regulations
Inform the client about the limits of confidentiality. - ANSWER-A social worker is
meeting with her client for a first therapy session. What is the first ethical responsibility
she is obligated to meet in this session?
Conflict of interest. - ANSWER-A social worker employed by a community-based
organization finds her professional decision-making to be influenced by elements other
than concern about the client. What ethical issue is this social worker facing?
Dignity and worth of a person - ANSWER-What core value of the social work profession
is violated when a client is coerced into consenting to treatment?
Duty to warn per the Tarasoff decision and confidentiality. - ANSWER-During a
counseling session at a mental health center, a social worker is told by their client that
the client intends to shoot a specific relative after leaving the session. What professional
duties are in conflict in this situation?
Talk to the client about whether they want any information disclosed and the possible
implications of disclosure. - ANSWER-A 16 year old has become a client of an
outpatient clinical social worker after surviving a sexual assault by the sibling of a
classmate at her school. The client's parents have signed a release of information
allowing the social worker to communicate directly with school staff. The social worker is
contacted by one of the teachers who is concerned that the client's school work has
declined drastically. The teacher wants to know if something has happened to the client.
What should the social worker do in this situation?
, Assess the situation for risk of potential harm or exploitation of the client. - ANSWER-
Adele, a social worker employed by a program serving at-risk youth at a local YMCA in
an urban community, lives in an apartment complex within walking distance of her work.
An avid reader, she frequently visits the local library and has joined a monthly reading
group. At her most recent visit, the group welcomed a new member who happens to be
the mother of one of the youths in her program. To determine how to respond to this
situation, what should Adele do first?
Report the situation to your supervisor. - ANSWER-During a counseling session, a
client with a history of relationship problems shares a text she received from one of your
co-workers inviting her to a social event as their date. Your co-worker is part of the
treatment team that regularly reviews client cases (including your client) and evaluates
their progress. The client is seeking your advice about whether to accept the date and
attend the event. What should you do?
The participant must be compensated either financially or by directly benefiting from the
study. - ANSWER-According to the Nuremberg Code, which provides the basis for
Institutional Review Boards' requirements for human subjects research, voluntary
consent to participate in research activities is an imperative. Which of the following
statements does not meet the criteria defining voluntary informed consent?
Pause the consent process and arrange for a professional interpreter. - ANSWER-A
social worker experiences a language barrier with a client during the process of
obtaining informed consent. The social worker has a limited ability to speak the client's
language. To best ensure that the client understands the information the social worker
is providing, what should the social worker do?
If feasible, discuss concerns with the colleague and assist them in getting help. -
ANSWER-When a social worker has first-hand information of a colleague's impairment
due to substance abuse or mental health difficulties that may be interfering with the
effectiveness of their practice, what should the social worker do first?
-Identifying personal biases
-How personal discomfort and fear contribute to perceptions as well as social
oppressions
-Unconscious biases we have about a person or group of people - ANSWER-Implicit
Biases
-The influence of human diversity on practice
-The differential skills and knowledge needed for cultural competency
-The impact of oppression and discrimination on vulnerable populations
-Ways in which theories are socially constructed and may be based on a particular
culture's structure and values which may subsequently influence privilege, power, and
the forms and mechanisms of oppression, including racism, sexism, ethnocentrism,
ageism, homophobia, and poverty
-Feminist theory as a different perspective - ANSWER-Diversity
Correct Answers
-summarized broad ethical standards
-is the moral compass for social work professions
-holds the social work profession accountable - ANSWER-The NASW Code of Ethics
service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human
relationships, integrity, competence - ANSWER-Social Work Values
- ANSWER-Ethical principles associated with each social work value
Ethical fading, self deception and awareness - ANSWER-Professional values vs
Personal values
-3 categories of responsibilities
-Key responsibilities of the social worker
-Application of standards to scenarios - ANSWER-Practicing ethical standards
-Commitment to clients
-Self-determination
-Informed consent
-Competence
-Cultural competence and social diversity
-Conflicts of interest
-Privacy and confidentiality
-Limitations of client confidentiality
-Duty to warn (Tarasoff) - ANSWER-Social workers' ethical responsibilities to clients
-Respect
-Confidentiality
-Sexual relationships and harassment
-Impairment, incompetence, or unethical behavior of colleagues - ANSWER-Social
Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues
-Competence
-Discrimination - ANSWER-Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities as Professionals
-Protection of human subjects
-Voluntary participation
-Informed consent
,-Confidentiality
-Protection of vulnerable/at-risk populations, etc. - ANSWER-Ethical Responsibility in
Research and Program Evaluation
-Supporting thorough and accurate assessment and treatment planning
-Providing competent service delivery
-Supporting continuity and coordination of services among settings and care providers
-Documenting supervisory activities to show contacts/content in case of challenge,
personnel problems, or litigation
-Providing data for program evaluation activities
-Allowing for accountability- information for 3rd party payors, regulatory bodies, etc. -
ANSWER-Functions of Documentation
-Calls for accurate documentation and protection of privacy of all involved parties noted
in the client record
-Gives clients the right to access own records (if this occurs there is a duty to protect
privacy of others noted in the record)
-Electronic records also have to have safeguards in place to protect confidentiality and
privacy
-Storage of records needs to protect privacy and confidentiality
-Records need to be kept for at least several years after termination in a secure, private
location. - ANSWER-Code of Ethics & Documentation
-Be thorough but don't overdo it. Think about what you have to document to
demonstrate activities and facilitate services as well as protecting and serving all parties
involved (assessment and treatment planning, informed consent, actual contact
information (including cancelled and failed appointments)termination activities,
supervisors should document both supervision actions and consults.)
-Too little vs. too much: document enough information when handling a crisis to show
your assessment, thought process, decision. Don't document a lot when you are
documenting things like a client's fantasy (this could be used against him/her)
-Document enough to fulfill the function of the note and the job. In a crisis, document
smarter vs. longer.
Personal notes and emails should also be written as if they are public: they can be
subpoenaed.
-Families and couples: may want to have one common file and separate files in which
priv - ANSWER-Content of Documentation
-Choose words carefully and support your conclusions; avoid defamatory language.
Write remembering there is an audience.
-Be clear and specific; be careful with abbreviations and do not use ones that are not
approved or will be misunderstood
-Qualify your statements- "appears to be", "seems to be"
-Avoid libelous writing - ANSWER-Language and Terminology
,-Records need to be thorough and timely; record AFTER you have delivered the service
not before.
-Document in the required window (during the contact, immediately after, within 24
hours)- delayed documentation can be used against you.
-Use proper grammar so you can maintain credibility
-Acknowledge errors: either write a new note with correct information or strike out error,
insert correct information. Date and initial change. - ANSWER-Credibility
-There is no such thing as complete confidentiality: always assume records will be seen
-Subpoenas: know the difference for one requesting records vs. one requesting a
personal appearance (some organizations send the person responsible for maintaining
the record- i.e., medical records)
-If you receive a subpoena you can try to have it withdrawn or the information requested
narrowed
-Do not release information without a court order or a consent - ANSWER-Access to
Records and Documents
-Be sure you are familiar with all records that pertain to your practice (HIPAA, FERPA,
JCAHO, etc)
-Work in compliance with these expectations - ANSWER-Regulations
Inform the client about the limits of confidentiality. - ANSWER-A social worker is
meeting with her client for a first therapy session. What is the first ethical responsibility
she is obligated to meet in this session?
Conflict of interest. - ANSWER-A social worker employed by a community-based
organization finds her professional decision-making to be influenced by elements other
than concern about the client. What ethical issue is this social worker facing?
Dignity and worth of a person - ANSWER-What core value of the social work profession
is violated when a client is coerced into consenting to treatment?
Duty to warn per the Tarasoff decision and confidentiality. - ANSWER-During a
counseling session at a mental health center, a social worker is told by their client that
the client intends to shoot a specific relative after leaving the session. What professional
duties are in conflict in this situation?
Talk to the client about whether they want any information disclosed and the possible
implications of disclosure. - ANSWER-A 16 year old has become a client of an
outpatient clinical social worker after surviving a sexual assault by the sibling of a
classmate at her school. The client's parents have signed a release of information
allowing the social worker to communicate directly with school staff. The social worker is
contacted by one of the teachers who is concerned that the client's school work has
declined drastically. The teacher wants to know if something has happened to the client.
What should the social worker do in this situation?
, Assess the situation for risk of potential harm or exploitation of the client. - ANSWER-
Adele, a social worker employed by a program serving at-risk youth at a local YMCA in
an urban community, lives in an apartment complex within walking distance of her work.
An avid reader, she frequently visits the local library and has joined a monthly reading
group. At her most recent visit, the group welcomed a new member who happens to be
the mother of one of the youths in her program. To determine how to respond to this
situation, what should Adele do first?
Report the situation to your supervisor. - ANSWER-During a counseling session, a
client with a history of relationship problems shares a text she received from one of your
co-workers inviting her to a social event as their date. Your co-worker is part of the
treatment team that regularly reviews client cases (including your client) and evaluates
their progress. The client is seeking your advice about whether to accept the date and
attend the event. What should you do?
The participant must be compensated either financially or by directly benefiting from the
study. - ANSWER-According to the Nuremberg Code, which provides the basis for
Institutional Review Boards' requirements for human subjects research, voluntary
consent to participate in research activities is an imperative. Which of the following
statements does not meet the criteria defining voluntary informed consent?
Pause the consent process and arrange for a professional interpreter. - ANSWER-A
social worker experiences a language barrier with a client during the process of
obtaining informed consent. The social worker has a limited ability to speak the client's
language. To best ensure that the client understands the information the social worker
is providing, what should the social worker do?
If feasible, discuss concerns with the colleague and assist them in getting help. -
ANSWER-When a social worker has first-hand information of a colleague's impairment
due to substance abuse or mental health difficulties that may be interfering with the
effectiveness of their practice, what should the social worker do first?
-Identifying personal biases
-How personal discomfort and fear contribute to perceptions as well as social
oppressions
-Unconscious biases we have about a person or group of people - ANSWER-Implicit
Biases
-The influence of human diversity on practice
-The differential skills and knowledge needed for cultural competency
-The impact of oppression and discrimination on vulnerable populations
-Ways in which theories are socially constructed and may be based on a particular
culture's structure and values which may subsequently influence privilege, power, and
the forms and mechanisms of oppression, including racism, sexism, ethnocentrism,
ageism, homophobia, and poverty
-Feminist theory as a different perspective - ANSWER-Diversity
