MSW Comprehensive Exam
1. The NASW Code of Ethics Ans: -summarized broad ethical standards
-is the moral compass for social work professions
-holds the social work profession accountable
2. Social Work Values Ans: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the
person, importance of human relationships, integrity, competence
3. Ethical principles associated with each social work value Ans:
4. Professional values vs Personal values Ans: Ethical fading, self deception and
awareness
5. Practicing ethical standards Ans: -3 categories of responsibilities
-Key responsibilities of the social worker
-Application of standards to scenarios
6. Social workers' ethical responsibilities to clients Ans: -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)
,7. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues Ans: -Respect
-Confidentiality
-Sexual relationships and harassment
-Impairment, incompetence, or unethical behavior of colleagues
8. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities as Professionals Ans: -Competence
-Discrimination
9. Ethical Responsibility in Research and Program Evaluation Ans: -Protection of
human subjects
-Voluntary participation
-Informed consent
-Confidentiality
-Protection of vulnerable/at-risk populations, etc.
10. Functions of Documentation Ans: -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, et
11. Code of Ethics & Documentation Ans: -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.
12. Content of Documentation Ans: -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
appoint- ments)termination activities, supervisors should document both
supervision actions and consults.)
-Too little vs. too much Ans: 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, documen
smarter vs. longer.
, Personal notes and emails should also be written as if they are public Ans: they can
be subpoenaed.
-Families and couples Ans: 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
13. Language and Terminology Ans: -Choose words carefully and support your
con- clusions; 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
14. Credibility Ans: -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.
1. The NASW Code of Ethics Ans: -summarized broad ethical standards
-is the moral compass for social work professions
-holds the social work profession accountable
2. Social Work Values Ans: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the
person, importance of human relationships, integrity, competence
3. Ethical principles associated with each social work value Ans:
4. Professional values vs Personal values Ans: Ethical fading, self deception and
awareness
5. Practicing ethical standards Ans: -3 categories of responsibilities
-Key responsibilities of the social worker
-Application of standards to scenarios
6. Social workers' ethical responsibilities to clients Ans: -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)
,7. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues Ans: -Respect
-Confidentiality
-Sexual relationships and harassment
-Impairment, incompetence, or unethical behavior of colleagues
8. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities as Professionals Ans: -Competence
-Discrimination
9. Ethical Responsibility in Research and Program Evaluation Ans: -Protection of
human subjects
-Voluntary participation
-Informed consent
-Confidentiality
-Protection of vulnerable/at-risk populations, etc.
10. Functions of Documentation Ans: -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, et
11. Code of Ethics & Documentation Ans: -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.
12. Content of Documentation Ans: -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
appoint- ments)termination activities, supervisors should document both
supervision actions and consults.)
-Too little vs. too much Ans: 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, documen
smarter vs. longer.
, Personal notes and emails should also be written as if they are public Ans: they can
be subpoenaed.
-Families and couples Ans: 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
13. Language and Terminology Ans: -Choose words carefully and support your
con- clusions; 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
14. Credibility Ans: -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.
