EMILLYCHARLOTTE 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YAER ©2024 EMILLYCHARLOTTE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH SEPTEMBER 2024
MSW Comprehensive Exam Study Guide
with Complete Solutions
The NASW Code of Ethics - Answer✔✔--summarized broad ethical standards
-is the moral compass for social work professions
-holds the social work profession accountable
Social Work Values - Answer✔✔-service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of
human relationships, integrity, competence
Ethical principles associated with each social work value - Answer✔✔-
Professional values vs Personal values - Answer✔✔-Ethical fading, self deception and awareness
Practicing ethical standards - Answer✔✔--3 categories of responsibilities
-Key responsibilities of the social worker
-Application of standards to scenarios
Social workers' ethical responsibilities to clients - Answer✔✔--Commitment to clients
-Self-determination
-Informed consent
-Competence
-Cultural competence and social diversity
Page 1/59
,EMILLYCHARLOTTE 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YAER ©2024 EMILLYCHARLOTTE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH SEPTEMBER 2024
-Conflicts of interest
-Privacy and confidentiality
-Limitations of client confidentiality
-Duty to warn (Tarasoff)
Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues - Answer✔✔--Respect
-Confidentiality
-Sexual relationships and harassment
-Impairment, incompetence, or unethical behavior of colleagues
Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities as Professionals - Answer✔✔--Competence
-Discrimination
Ethical Responsibility in Research and Program Evaluation - Answer✔✔--Protection of human subjects
-Voluntary participation
-Informed consent
-Confidentiality
-Protection of vulnerable/at-risk populations, etc.
Functions of Documentation - Answer✔✔--Supporting thorough and accurate assessment and treatment
planning
-Providing competent service delivery
Page 2/59
,EMILLYCHARLOTTE 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YAER ©2024 EMILLYCHARLOTTE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH SEPTEMBER 2024
-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.
Code of Ethics & Documentation - Answer✔✔--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.
Content of Documentation - Answer✔✔--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)
Page 3/59
, EMILLYCHARLOTTE 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YAER ©2024 EMILLYCHARLOTTE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH SEPTEMBER 2024
-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 private sensitive
information is kept in case of later disputes
-Don't air dirty laundry- no comments about being unhappy in work environment, too few social
workers, unhelpful colleagues, etc in client records- this should be found in administrative
documentation only
Language and Terminology - Answer✔✔--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
Credibility - Answer✔✔--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.
Page 4/59
FIRST PUBLISH SEPTEMBER 2024
MSW Comprehensive Exam Study Guide
with Complete Solutions
The NASW Code of Ethics - Answer✔✔--summarized broad ethical standards
-is the moral compass for social work professions
-holds the social work profession accountable
Social Work Values - Answer✔✔-service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of
human relationships, integrity, competence
Ethical principles associated with each social work value - Answer✔✔-
Professional values vs Personal values - Answer✔✔-Ethical fading, self deception and awareness
Practicing ethical standards - Answer✔✔--3 categories of responsibilities
-Key responsibilities of the social worker
-Application of standards to scenarios
Social workers' ethical responsibilities to clients - Answer✔✔--Commitment to clients
-Self-determination
-Informed consent
-Competence
-Cultural competence and social diversity
Page 1/59
,EMILLYCHARLOTTE 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YAER ©2024 EMILLYCHARLOTTE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH SEPTEMBER 2024
-Conflicts of interest
-Privacy and confidentiality
-Limitations of client confidentiality
-Duty to warn (Tarasoff)
Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues - Answer✔✔--Respect
-Confidentiality
-Sexual relationships and harassment
-Impairment, incompetence, or unethical behavior of colleagues
Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities as Professionals - Answer✔✔--Competence
-Discrimination
Ethical Responsibility in Research and Program Evaluation - Answer✔✔--Protection of human subjects
-Voluntary participation
-Informed consent
-Confidentiality
-Protection of vulnerable/at-risk populations, etc.
Functions of Documentation - Answer✔✔--Supporting thorough and accurate assessment and treatment
planning
-Providing competent service delivery
Page 2/59
,EMILLYCHARLOTTE 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YAER ©2024 EMILLYCHARLOTTE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH SEPTEMBER 2024
-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.
Code of Ethics & Documentation - Answer✔✔--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.
Content of Documentation - Answer✔✔--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)
Page 3/59
, EMILLYCHARLOTTE 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YAER ©2024 EMILLYCHARLOTTE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH SEPTEMBER 2024
-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 private sensitive
information is kept in case of later disputes
-Don't air dirty laundry- no comments about being unhappy in work environment, too few social
workers, unhelpful colleagues, etc in client records- this should be found in administrative
documentation only
Language and Terminology - Answer✔✔--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
Credibility - Answer✔✔--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.
Page 4/59
