Code of Ethics of the

National Association of Social Workers

OVERVIEW

The NASW Code of Ethics is intended to serve as a guide to the everyday

professional conduct of social workers. This Code includes four sections. The
first Section, "Preamble," summarizes the social work profession's mission and
core values. The second section, "Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics,"
provides an overview of the Code's main functions and a brief guide for dealing
with ethical issues or dilemmas in social work practice. The third section,
"Ethical Principles," presents broad ethical principles, based on social work's
core values, that inform social work practice. The final section, "Ethical
Standards," includes specific ethical standards to guide social workers' conduct
and to provide a basis for adjudication.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest organization

of professional social workers in the world. NASW serves social workers in 55
chapters throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam,
and abroad. NASW was formed in 1955 through a merger of seven predecessor
social work organizations to carry out three responsibilities:

• strengthen and unify the profession

• promote the development of social work practice • advance sound social
policies.

Promoting high standards of practice and protecting the consumer of services

are major association principles.

Approved by the 1996 NASW Delegate Assembly and revised by the NASW
Delegate Assembly in 2017.

© 2017 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved.

 Preamble
The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and
help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and
empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A
historic and defining feature of social work is the profession's focus on individual well-
being in a social context and the well-being of society. Fundamental to social work is
attention to the environmental forces that create, contribute to, and address problems in
living.
Social workers promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of
clients. "Clients" is used inclusively to refer to individuals, families, groups,
organizations, and communities. Social workers are sensitive to cultural and ethnic
diversity and strive to end discrimination, oppression, poverty, and other forms of social
injustice. These activities may be in the form of direct practice, community organizing,
supervision, consultation, administration, advocacy, social and political action, policy
development and implementation, education, and research and evaluation. Social
workers seek to enhance the capacity of people to address their own needs. Social
workers also seek to promote the responsiveness of organizations, communities, and
other social institutions to individuals' needs and social problems.

The mission of the social work profession is rooted in a set of core values. These
core values, embraced by social workers throughout the profession's history, are the
foundation of social work's unique purpose and perspective:
 service
 social justice
 dignity and worth of the person
 importance of human relationships
 integrity
 competence.

This constellation of core values reflects what is unique to the social work
profession. Core values, and the principles that flow from them, must be balanced
within the context and complexity of the human experience.
 Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics
Professional ethics are at the core of social work. The profession has an obligation to
articulate its basic values, ethical principles, and ethical standards. The NASW Code of
Ethics sets forth these values, principles, and standards to guide social workers' conduct.
The Code is relevant to all social workers and social work students, regardless of their
professional functions, the settings in which they work, or the populations they serve.

The NASW Code of Ethics serves six purposes:

1. The Code identifies core values on which social work's mission is based.
2. The Code summarizes broad ethical principles that reflect the profession's core
values and establishes a set of specific ethical standards that should be used to guide
social work practice.
3. The Code is designed to help social workers identify relevant considerations when
professional obligations conflict or ethical uncertainties arise.
4. The Code provides ethical standards to which the general public can hold the social
work profession accountable.
5. The Code socializes practitioners new to the field to social work's mission, values,
ethical principles, and ethical standards.
6. The Code articulates standards that the social work profession itself can use to assess
whether social workers have engaged in unethical conduct. NASW has formal
procedures to adjudicate ethics complaints filed against its members. * In subscribing
to this Code, social workers are required to cooperate in its implementation,
participate in NASW adjudication proceedings, and abide by any NASW disciplinary
rulings or sanctions based on it.
*For information on NASW adjudication procedures, see NASW Procedures for the
Adjudication of Grievances.

The Code offers a set of values, principles, and standards to guide decision
making and conduct when ethical issues arise. It does not provide a set of rules that
prescribe how social workers should act in all situations. Specific applications of
the Code must take into account the context in which it is being considered and the
possibility of conflicts among the Code's values, principles, and standards. Ethical
responsibilities flow from all human relationships, from the personal and familial to the
social and professional.
Further, the NASW Code of Ethics does not specify which values, principles, and
standards are most important and ought to outweigh others in instances when they
conflict. Reasonable differences of opinion can and do exist among social workers with
respect to the ways in which values, ethical principles, and ethical standards should be
rank ordered when they conflict. Ethical decision making in a given situation must
apply the informed judgment of the individual social worker and should also consider
how the issues would be judged in a peer review process where the ethical standards of
the profession would be applied.
Ethical decision making is a process. In situations when conflicting obligations
arise, social workers may be faced with complex ethical dilemmas that have no simple
answers. Social workers should take into consideration all the values, principles, and
standards in this Code that are relevant to any situation in which ethical judgment is
warranted. Social workers' decisions and actions should be consistent with the spirit as
well as the letter of this Code.
In addition to this Code, there are many other sources of information about
ethical thinking that may be useful. Social workers should consider ethical theory and
principles generally, social work theory and research, laws, regulations, agency policies,
and other relevant codes of ethics, recognizing that among codes of ethics social
workers should consider the NASW Code of Ethics as their primary source. Social
workers also should be aware of the impact on ethical decision making of their clients'
and their own personal values and cultural and religious beliefs and practices. They
should be aware of any conflicts between personal and professional values and deal
with them responsibly. For additional guidance social workers should consult the
relevant literature on professional ethics and ethical decision making and seek
appropriate consultation when faced with ethical dilemmas. This may involve
consultation with an agency-based or social work organization's ethics committee, a
regulatory body, knowledgeable colleagues, supervisors, or legal counsel.
Instances may arise when social workers' ethical obligations conflict with agency
policies or relevant laws or regulations. When such conflicts occur, social workers must
make a responsible effort to resolve the conflict in a manner that is consistent with the
values, principles, and standards expressed in this Code. If a reasonable resolution of
the conflict does not appear possible, social workers should seek proper consultation
before making a decision.
The NASW Code of Ethics is to be used by NASW and by individuals, agencies,
organizations, and bodies (such as licensing and regulatory boards, professional liability
insurance providers, courts of law, agency boards of directors, government agencies,
and other professional groups) that choose to adopt it or use it as a frame of reference.
Violation of standards in this Code does not automatically imply legal liability or
violation of the law. Such determination can only be made in the context of legal and
judicial proceedings. Alleged violations of the Code would be subject to a peer review
process. Such processes are generally separate from legal or administrative procedures
and insulated from legal review or proceedings to allow the profession to counsel and
discipline its own members.
A code of ethics cannot guarantee ethical behavior. Moreover, a code of ethics
cannot resolve all ethical issues or disputes or capture the richness and complexity
involved in striving to make responsible choices within a moral community. Rather, a
code of ethics sets forth values, ethical principles, and ethical standards to which
professionals aspire and by which their actions can be judged. Social workers' ethical
behavior should result from their personal commitment to engage in ethical practice.
The NASW Code of Ethics reflects the commitment of all social workers to uphold the
profession's values and to act ethically. Principles and standards must be applied by
individuals of good character who discern moral questions and, in good faith, seek to
make reliable ethical judgments.
With growth in the use of communication technology in various aspects of
social work practice, social workers need to be aware of the unique challenges that may
arise in relation to the maintenance of confidentiality, informed consent, professional
boundaries, professional competence, record keeping, and other ethical considerations.
In general, all ethical standards in this Code of Ethics are applicable to interactions,
relationships, or communications, whether they occur in person or with the use of
technology. For the purposes of this Code, “technology-assisted social work services”
include any social work services that involve the use of computers, mobile or landline
telephones, tablets, video technology, or other electronic or digital technologies; this
includes the use of various electronic or digital platforms, such as the Internet, online
social media, chat rooms, text messaging, e-mail, and emerging digital applications.
Technology-assisted social work services encompass all aspects of social work practice,
including psychotherapy; individual, family, or group counseling; community
organization; administration; advocacy; mediation; education; supervision; research;
evaluation; and other social work services. Social workers should keep apprised of
emerging technological developments that may be used in social work practice and how
various ethical standards apply to them.
 Ethical Principles
The following broad ethical principles are based on social work's core values of service,
social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships,
integrity, and competence. These principles set forth ideals to which all social workers
should aspire.
Value: Service
Ethical Principle: Social workers' primary goal is to help people in need and to
address social problems.
Social workers elevate service to others above self-interest. Social workers draw on
their knowledge, values, and skills to help people in need and to address social
problems. Social workers are encouraged to volunteer some portion of their professional
skills with no expectation of significant financial return (pro bono service).
Value: Social Justice
Ethical Principle: Social workers challenge social injustice.
Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and
oppressed individuals and groups of people. Social workers' social change efforts are
focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms
of social injustice. These activities seek to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about
oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers strive to ensure access to
needed information, services, and resources; equality of opportunity; and meaningful
participation in decision making for all people.
Value: Dignity and Worth of the Person
Ethical Principle: Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person.
Social workers treat each person in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of
individual differences and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers promote clients'
socially responsible self-determination. Social workers seek to enhance clients' capacity
and opportunity to change and to address their own needs. Social workers are cognizant
of their dual responsibility to clients and to the broader society. They seek to resolve
conflicts between clients' interests and the broader society's interests in a socially
responsible manner consistent with the values, ethical principles, and ethical standards
of the profession.
Value: Importance of Human Relationships
Ethical Principle: Social workers recognize the central importance of human
relationships.
Social workers understand that relationships between and among people are an
important vehicle for change. Social workers engage people as partners in the helping
process. Social workers seek to strengthen relationships among people in a purposeful
effort to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the well-being of individuals, families,
social groups, organizations, and communities.
Value: Integrity
Ethical Principle: Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner.
Social workers are continually aware of the profession's mission, values, ethical
principles, and ethical standards and practice in a manner consistent with them. Social
workers act honestly and responsibly and promote ethical practices on the part of the
organizations with which they are affiliated.
Value: Competence
Ethical Principle: Social workers practice within their areas of competence and
develop and enhance their professional expertise.
Social workers continually strive to increase their professional knowledge and skills and
to apply them in practice. Social workers should aspire to contribute to the knowledge
base of the profession.
 Ethical Standards
The following ethical standards are relevant to the professional activities of all social
workers. These standards concern (1) social workers' ethical responsibilities to clients,
(2) social workers' ethical responsibilities to colleagues, (3) social workers' ethical
responsibilities in practice settings, (4) social workers' ethical responsibilities as
professionals, (5) social workers' ethical responsibilities to the social work profession,
and (6) social workers' ethical responsibilities to the broader society.
Some of the standards that follow are enforceable guidelines for professional conduct,
and some are aspirational. The extent to which each standard is enforceable is a matter
of professional judgment to be exercised by those responsible for reviewing alleged
violations of ethical standards.

1. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to Clients

1.01 Commitment to Clients
Social workers' primary responsibility is to promote the well-being of clients. In
general, clients' interests are primary. However, social workers' responsibility to the
larger society or specific legal obligations may on limited occasions supersede the
loyalty owed clients, and clients should be so advised. (Examples include when a social
worker is required by law to report that a client has abused a child or has threatened to
harm self or others.)
1.02 Self-Determination
Social workers respect and promote the right of clients to self-determination and assist
clients in their efforts to identify and clarify their goals. Social workers may limit
clients' right to self-determination when, in the social workers' professional judgment,
clients' actions or potential actions pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent risk to
themselves or others.
1.03 Informed Consent
(a) Social workers should provide services to clients only in the context of a
professional relationship based, when appropriate, on valid informed consent. Social
workers should use clear and understandable language to inform clients of the purpose
of the services, risks related to the services, limits to services because of the
requirements of a third-party payer, relevant costs, reasonable alternatives, clients' right
to refuse or withdraw consent, and the time frame covered by the consent. Social
workers should provide clients with an opportunity to ask questions.
(b) In instances when clients are not literate or have difficulty understanding the
primary language used in the practice setting, social workers should take steps to ensure
clients' comprehension. This may include providing clients with a detailed verbal
explanation or arranging for a qualified interpreter or translator whenever possible.
(c) In instances when clients lack the capacity to provide informed consent, social
workers should protect clients' interests by seeking permission from an appropriate third
party, informing clients consistent with the clients' level of understanding. In such
instances social workers should seek to ensure that the third party acts in a manner
consistent with clients' wishes and interests. Social workers should take reasonable steps
to enhance such clients' ability to give informed consent.
(d) In instances when clients are receiving services involuntarily, social workers should
provide information about the nature and extent of services and about the extent of
clients' right to refuse service.
(e) Social workers should discuss with clients the social workers’ policies concerning
the use of technology in the provision of professional services.
(f) Social workers who use technology to provide social work services should obtain
informed consent from the individuals using these services during the initial screening
or interview and prior to initiating services. Social workers should assess clients’
capacity to provide informed consent and, when using technology to communicate,
verify the identity and location of clients.
(g) Social workers who use technology to provide social work services should assess
the clients’ suitability and capacity for electronic and remote services. Social workers
should consider the clients’ intellectual, emotional, and physical ability to use
technology to receive services and the clients’ ability to understand the potential
benefits, risks, and limitations of such services. If clients do not wish to use services
provided through technology, social workers should help them identify alternate
methods of service.
(h) Social workers should obtain clients’ informed consent before making audio or
video recordings of clients or permitting observation of service provision by a third
party.
(i) Social workers should obtain client consent before conducting an electronic search
on the client. Exceptions may arise when the search is for purposes of protecting the
client or other people from serious, foreseeable, and imminent harm, or for other
compelling professional reasons.
1.04 Competence
(a) Social workers should provide services and represent themselves as competent only
within the boundaries of their education, training, license, certification, consultation
received, supervised experience, or other relevant professional experience.
(b) Social workers should provide services in substantive areas or use intervention
techniques or approaches that are new to them only after engaging in appropriate study,
training, consultation, and supervision from people who are competent in those
interventions or techniques.
(c) When generally recognized standards do not exist with respect to an emerging area
of practice, social workers should exercise careful judgment and take responsible steps
(including appropriate education, research, training, consultation, and supervision) to
ensure the competence of their work and to protect clients from harm.
(d) Social workers who use technology in the provision of social work services should
ensure that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide such services in a
competent manner. This includes an understanding of the special communication
challenges when using technology and the ability to implement strategies to address
these challenges.
(e) Social workers who use technology in providing social work services should comply
with the laws governing technology and social work practice in the jurisdiction in which
they are regulated and located and, as applicable, in the jurisdiction in which the client
is located.
1.05 Cultural Awareness and Social Diversity
(a) Social workers should understand culture and its function in human behavior and
society, recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures.
(b) Social workers should have a knowledge base of their clients' cultures and be able to
demonstrate competence in the provision of services that are sensitive to clients'
cultures and to differences among people and cultural groups.
(c) Social workers should obtain education about and seek to understand the nature of
social diversity and oppression with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, color,
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political
belief, religion, immigration status, and mental or physical ability.
(d) Social workers who provide electronic social work services should be aware of
cultural and socioeconomic differences among clients and how they may use electronic
technology. Social workers should assess cultural, environmental, economic, mental or
physical ability, linguistic, and other issues that may affect the delivery or use of these
services.
1.06 Conflicts of Interest
(a) Social workers should be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with
the exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment. Social workers should
inform clients when a real or potential conflict of interest arises and take reasonable
steps to resolve the issue in a manner that makes the clients' interests primary and
protects clients' interests to the greatest extent possible. In some cases, protecting
clients' interests may require termination of the professional relationship with proper
referral of the client.
(b) Social workers should not take unfair advantage of any professional relationship or
exploit others to further their personal, religious, political, or business interests.
(c) Social workers should not engage in dual or multiple relationships with clients or
former clients in which there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client. In
instances when dual or multiple relationships are unavoidable, social workers should
take steps to protect clients and are responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and
culturally sensitive boundaries. (Dual or multiple relationships occur when social
workers relate to clients in more than one relationship, whether professional, social, or
business. Dual or multiple relationships can occur simultaneously or consecutively.)
(d) When social workers provide services to two or more people who have a
relationship with each other (for example, couples, family members), social workers
should clarify with all parties which individuals will be considered clients and the
nature of social workers' professional obligations to the various individuals who are
receiving services. Social workers who anticipate a conflict of interest among the
individuals receiving services or who anticipate having to perform in potentially
conflicting roles (for example, when a social worker is asked to testify in a child
custody dispute or divorce proceedings involving clients) should clarify their role with
the parties involved and take appropriate action to minimize any conflict of interest.
(e) Social workers should avoid communication with clients using technology (such as
social networking sites, online chat, e-mail, text messages, telephone, and video) for
personal or non-work-related purposes.
(f) Social workers should be aware that posting personal information on professional
Web sites or other media might cause boundary confusion, inappropriate dual
relationships, or harm to clients.
(g) Social workers should be aware that personal affiliations may increase the likelihood
that clients may discover the social worker’s presence on Web sites, social media, and
other forms of technology. Social workers should be aware that involvement in
electronic communication with groups based on race, ethnicity, language, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical ability, religion,
immigration status, and other personal affiliations may affect their ability to work
effectively with particular clients.
(h) Social workers should avoid accepting requests from or engaging in personal
relationships with clients on social networking sites or other electronic media to prevent
boundary confusion, inappropriate dual relationships, or harm to clients.
1.07 Privacy and Confidentiality
(a) Social workers should respect clients' right to privacy. Social workers should not
solicit private information from or about clients except for compelling professional
reasons. Once private information is shared, standards of confidentiality apply.
(b) Social workers may disclose confidential information when appropriate with valid
consent from a client or a person legally authorized to consent on behalf of a client.
(c) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of all information obtained in the
course of professional service, except for compelling professional reasons. The general
expectation that social workers will keep information confidential does not apply when
disclosure is necessary to prevent serious, foreseeable, and imminent harm to a client or
others. In all instances, social workers should disclose the least amount of confidential
information necessary to achieve the desired purpose; only information that is directly
relevant to the purpose for which the disclosure is made should be revealed.
(d) Social workers should inform clients, to the extent possible, about the disclosure of
confidential information and the potential consequences, when feasible before the
disclosure is made. This applies whether social workers disclose confidential
information on the basis of a legal requirement or client consent.
(e) Social workers should discuss with clients and other interested parties the nature of
confidentiality and limitations of clients' right to confidentiality. Social workers should
review with clients circumstances where confidential information may be requested and
where disclosure of confidential information may be legally required. This discussion
should occur as soon as possible in the social worker-client relationship and as needed
throughout the course of the relationship.
(f) When social workers provide counseling services to families, couples, or groups,
social workers should seek agreement among the parties involved concerning each
individual's right to confidentiality and obligation to preserve the confidentiality of
information shared by others. This agreement should include consideration of whether
confidential information may be exchanged in person or electronically, among clients or
with others outside of formal counseling sessions. Social workers should inform
participants in family, couples, or group counseling that social workers cannot
guarantee that all participants will honor such agreements.
(g) Social workers should inform clients involved in family, couples, marital, or group
counseling of the social worker's, employer's, and agency's policy concerning the social
worker's disclosure of confidential information among the parties involved in the
counseling.
(h) Social workers should not disclose confidential information to third-party payers
unless clients have authorized such disclosure.
(i) Social workers should not discuss confidential information, electronically or in
person, in any setting unless privacy can be ensured. Social workers should not discuss
confidential information in public or semi-public areas such as hallways, waiting rooms,
elevators, and restaurants.
(j) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of clients during legal proceedings
to the extent permitted by law. When a court of law or other legally authorized body
orders social workers to disclose confidential or privileged information without a
client's consent and such disclosure could cause harm to the client, social workers
should request that the court withdraw the order or limit the order as narrowly as
possible or maintain the records under seal, unavailable for public inspection.
(k) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of clients when responding to
requests from members of the media.
(l) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of clients' written and electronic
records and other sensitive information. Social workers should take reasonable steps to
ensure that clients' records are stored in a secure location and that clients' records are
not available to others who are not authorized to have access.
(m) Social workers should take reasonable steps to protect the confidentiality of
electronic communications, including information provided to clients or third parties.
Social workers should use applicable safeguards (such as encryption, firewalls, and
passwords) when using electronic communications such as e-mail, online posts, online
chat sessions, mobile communication, and text messages.
(n) Social workers should develop and disclose policies and procedures for notifying
clients of any breach of confidential information in a timely manner.
(o) In the event of unauthorized access to client records or information, including any
unauthorized access to the social worker’s electronic communication or storage
systems, social workers should inform clients of such disclosures, consistent with
applicable laws and professional standards.
(p) Social workers should develop and inform clients about their policies, consistent
with prevailing social work ethical standards, on the use of electronic technology,
including Internet-based search engines, to gather information about clients.
(q) Social workers should avoid searching or gathering client information electronically
unless there are compelling professional reasons, and when appropriate, with the
client’s informed consent.
(r) Social workers should avoid posting any identifying or confidential information
about clients on professional websites or other forms of social media.
(s) Social workers should transfer or dispose of clients' records in a manner that protects
clients' confidentiality and is consistent with applicable laws governing records and
social work licensure.
(t) Social workers should take reasonable precautions to protect client confidentiality in
the event of the social worker's termination of practice, incapacitation, or death.
(u) Social workers should not disclose identifying information when discussing clients
for teaching or training purposes unless the client has consented to disclosure of
confidential information.
(v) Social workers should not disclose identifying information when discussing clients
with consultants unless the client has consented to disclosure of confidential
information or there is a compelling need for such disclosure.
(w) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of deceased clients consistent with
the preceding standards.
1.08 Access to Records
(a) Social workers should provide clients with reasonable access to records concerning
the clients. Social workers who are concerned that clients' access to their records could
cause serious misunderstanding or harm to the client should provide assistance in
interpreting the records and consultation with the client regarding the records. Social
workers should limit clients' access to their records, or portions of their records, only in
exceptional circumstances when there is compelling evidence that such access would
cause serious harm to the client. Both clients' requests and the rationale for withholding
some or all of the record should be documented in clients' files.
(b) Social workers should develop and inform clients about their policies, consistent
with prevailing social work ethical standards, on the use of technology to provide
clients with access to their records.
(c) When providing clients with access to their records, social workers should take steps
to protect the confidentiality of other individuals identified or discussed in such records.
1.09 Sexual Relationships
(a) Social workers should under no circumstances engage in sexual activities,
inappropriate sexual communications through the use of technology or in person, or
sexual contact with current clients, whether such contact is consensual or forced.
(b) Social workers should not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with clients'
relatives or other individuals with whom clients maintain a close personal relationship
when there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client. Sexual activity or
sexual contact with clients' relatives or other individuals with whom clients maintain a
personal relationship has the potential to be harmful to the client and may make it
difficult for the social worker and client to maintain appropriate professional
boundaries. Social workers--not their clients, their clients' relatives, or other individuals
with whom the client maintains a personal relationship--assume the full burden for
setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries.
(c) Social workers should not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with former
clients because of the potential for harm to the client. If social workers engage in
conduct contrary to this prohibition or claim that an exception to this prohibition is
warranted because of extraordinary circumstances, it is social workers--not their clients-
-who assume the full burden of demonstrating that the former client has not been
exploited, coerced, or manipulated, intentionally or unintentionally.
(d) Social workers should not provide clinical services to individuals with whom they
have had a prior sexual relationship. Providing clinical services to a former sexual
partner has the potential to be harmful to the individual and is likely to make it difficult
for the social worker and individual to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
1.10 Physical Contact
Social workers should not engage in physical contact with clients when there is a
possibility of psychological harm to the client as a result of the contact (such as cradling
or caressing clients). Social workers who engage in appropriate physical contact with
clients are responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries
that govern such physical contact.
1.11 Sexual Harassment
Social workers should not sexually harass clients. Sexual harassment includes sexual
advances; sexual solicitation; requests for sexual favors; and other verbal, written,
electronic, or physical contact of a sexual nature.
1.12 Derogatory Language
Social workers should not use derogatory language in their written, verbal, or electronic
communications to or about clients. Social workers should use accurate and respectful
language in all communications to and about clients.
1.13 Payment for Services
(a) When setting fees, social workers should ensure that the fees are fair, reasonable,
and commensurate with the services performed. Consideration should be given to
clients' ability to pay.
(b) Social workers should avoid accepting goods or services from clients as payment for
professional services. Bartering arrangements, particularly involving services, create the
potential for conflicts of interest, exploitation, and inappropriate boundaries in social
workers' relationships with clients. Social workers should explore and may participate
in bartering only in very limited circumstances when it can be demonstrated that such
arrangements are an accepted practice among professionals in the local community,
considered to be essential for the provision of services, negotiated without coercion, and
entered into at the client's initiative and with the client's informed consent. Social
workers who accept goods or services from clients as payment for professional services
assume the full burden of demonstrating that this arrangement will not be detrimental to
the client or the professional relationship.
(c) Social workers should not solicit a private fee or other remuneration for providing
services to clients who are entitled to such available services through the social workers'
employer or agency.
1.14 Clients Who Lack Decision-Making Capacity
When social workers act on behalf of clients who lack the capacity to make informed
decisions, social workers should take reasonable steps to safeguard the interests and
rights of those clients.
1.15 Interruption of Services
Social workers should make reasonable efforts to ensure continuity of services in the
event that services are interrupted by factors such as unavailability, disruptions in
electronic communication, relocation, illness, mental or physical ability, or death.
1.16 Referral for Services
(a) Social workers should refer clients to other professionals when the other
professionals' specialized knowledge or expertise is needed to serve clients fully or
when social workers believe that they are not being effective or making reasonable
progress with clients and that other services are required.
(b) Social workers who refer clients to other professionals should take appropriate steps
to facilitate an orderly transfer of responsibility. Social workers who refer clients to
other professionals should disclose, with clients' consent, all pertinent information to the
new service providers.
(c) Social workers are prohibited from giving or receiving payment for a referral when
no professional service is provided by the referring social worker.
1.17 Termination of Services
(a) Social workers should terminate services to clients and professional relationships
with them when such services and relationships are no longer required or no longer
serve the clients' needs or interests.
(b) Social workers should take reasonable steps to avoid abandoning clients who are
still in need of services. Social workers should withdraw services precipitously only
under unusual circumstances, giving careful consideration to all factors in the situation
and taking care to minimize possible adverse effects. Social workers should assist in
making appropriate arrangements for continuation of services when necessary.
(c) Social workers in fee-for-service settings may terminate services to clients who are
not paying an overdue balance if the financial contractual arrangements have been made
clear to the client, if the client does not pose an imminent danger to self or others, and if
the clinical and other consequences of the current nonpayment have been addressed and
discussed with the client.
(d) Social workers should not terminate services to pursue a social, financial, or sexual
relationship with a client.
(e) Social workers who anticipate the termination or interruption of services to clients
should notify clients promptly and seek the transfer, referral, or continuation of services
in relation to the clients' needs and preferences.
(f) Social workers who are leaving an employment setting should inform clients of
appropriate options for the continuation of services and of the benefits and risks of the
options.

2. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues

2.01 Respect
(a) Social workers should treat colleagues with respect and should represent accurately
and fairly the qualifications, views, and obligations of colleagues.
(b) Social workers should avoid unwarranted negative criticism of colleagues in verbal,
written, and electronic communications with clients or with other professionals.
Unwarranted negative criticism may include demeaning comments that refer to
colleagues' level of competence or to individuals' attributes such as race, ethnicity,
national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital
status, political belief, religion, immigration status, and mental or physical ability.
(c) Social workers should cooperate with social work colleagues and with colleagues of
other professions when such cooperation serves the well-being of clients.
2.02 Confidentiality
Social workers should respect confidential information shared by colleagues in the
course of their professional relationships and transactions. Social workers should ensure
that such colleagues understand social workers' obligation to respect confidentiality and
any exceptions related to it.
2.03 Interdisciplinary Collaboration
(a) Social workers who are members of an interdisciplinary team should participate in
and contribute to decisions that affect the well-being of clients by drawing on the
perspectives, values, and experiences of the social work profession. Professional and
ethical obligations of the interdisciplinary team as a whole and of its individual
members should be clearly established.
(b) Social workers for whom a team decision raises ethical concerns should attempt to
resolve the disagreement through appropriate channels. If the disagreement cannot be
resolved, social workers should pursue other avenues to address their concerns
consistent with client well-being.
2.04 Disputes Involving Colleagues
(a) Social workers should not take advantage of a dispute between a colleague and an
employer to obtain a position or otherwise advance the social workers' own interests.
(b) Social workers should not exploit clients in disputes with colleagues or engage
clients in any inappropriate discussion of conflicts between social workers and their
colleagues.
2.05 Consultation
(a) Social workers should seek the advice and counsel of colleagues whenever such
consultation is in the best interests of clients.
(b) Social workers should keep themselves informed about colleagues' areas of
expertise and competencies. Social workers should seek consultation only from
colleagues who have demonstrated knowledge, expertise, and competence related to the
subject of the consultation.
(c) When consulting with colleagues about clients, social workers should disclose the
least amount of information necessary to achieve the purposes of the consultation.
2.06 Sexual Relationships
(a) Social workers who function as supervisors or educators should not engage in sexual
activities or contact (including verbal, written, electronic, or physical contact) with
supervisees, students, trainees, or other colleagues over whom they exercise
professional authority.
(b) Social workers should avoid engaging in sexual relationships with colleagues when
there is potential for a conflict of interest. Social workers who become involved in, or
anticipate becoming involved in, a sexual relationship with a colleague have a duty to
transfer professional responsibilities, when necessary, to avoid a conflict of interest.
2.07 Sexual Harassment
Social workers should not sexually harass supervisees, students, trainees, or colleagues.
Sexual harassment includes sexual advances; sexual solicitation; requests for sexual
favors; and other verbal, written, electronic, or physical contact of a sexual nature.
2.08 Impairment of Colleagues
(a) Social workers who have direct knowledge of a social work colleague's impairment
that is due to personal problems, psychosocial distress, substance abuse, or mental
health difficulties and that interferes with practice effectiveness should consult with that
colleague when feasible and assist the colleague in taking remedial action.
(b) Social workers who believe that a social work colleague's impairment interferes with
practice effectiveness and that the colleague has not taken adequate steps to address the
impairment should take action through appropriate channels established by employers,
agencies, NASW, licensing and regulatory bodies, and other professional organizations.
2.09 Incompetence of Colleagues
(a) Social workers who have direct knowledge of a social work colleague's
incompetence should consult with that colleague when feasible and assist the colleague
in taking remedial action.
(b) Social workers who believe that a social work colleague is incompetent and has not
taken adequate steps to address the incompetence should take action through
appropriate channels established by employers, agencies, NASW, licensing and
regulatory bodies, and other professional organizations.
2.10 Unethical Conduct of Colleagues
(a) Social workers should take adequate measures to discourage, prevent, expose, and
correct the unethical conduct of colleagues, including unethical conduct using
technology.
(b) Social workers should be knowledgeable about established policies and procedures
for handling concerns about colleagues' unethical behavior. Social workers should be
familiar with national, state, and local procedures for handling ethics complaints. These
include policies and procedures created by NASW, licensing and regulatory bodies,
employers, agencies, and other professional organizations.
(c) Social workers who believe that a colleague has acted unethically should seek
resolution by discussing their concerns with the colleague when feasible and when such
discussion is likely to be productive.
(d) When necessary, social workers who believe that a colleague has acted unethically
should take action through appropriate formal channels (such as contacting a state
licensing board or regulatory body, the NASW National Ethics Committee, or other
professional ethics committees).
(e) Social workers should defend and assist colleagues who are unjustly charged with
unethical conduct.

3. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities in Practice

Settings
3.01 Supervision and Consultation
(a) Social workers who provide supervision or consultation (whether in-person or
remotely) should have the necessary knowledge and skill to supervise or consult
appropriately and should do so only within their areas of knowledge and competence.
(b) Social workers who provide supervision or consultation are responsible for setting
clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries.
(c) Social workers should not engage in any dual or multiple relationships with
supervisees in which there is a risk of exploitation of or potential harm to the
supervisee, including dual relationships that may arise while using social networking
sites or other electronic media.
(d) Social workers who provide supervision should evaluate supervisees' performance in
a manner that is fair and respectful.
3.02 Education and Training
(a) Social workers who function as educators, field instructors for students, or trainers
should provide instruction only within their areas of knowledge and competence and
should provide instruction based on the most current information and knowledge
available in the profession.
(b) Social workers who function as educators or field instructors for students should
evaluate students' performance in a manner that is fair and respectful.
(c) Social workers who function as educators or field instructors for students should
take reasonable steps to ensure that clients are routinely informed when services are
being provided by students.
(d) Social workers who function as educators or field instructors for students should not
engage in any dual or multiple relationships with students in which there is a risk of
exploitation or potential harm to the student, including dual relationships that may arise
while using social networking sites or other electronic media. Social work educators
and field instructors are responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally
sensitive boundaries.
3.03 Performance Evaluation
Social workers who have responsibility for evaluating the performance of others should
fulfill such responsibility in a fair and considerate manner and on the basis of clearly
stated criteria.
3.04 Client Records
(a) Social workers should take reasonable steps to ensure that documentation in
electronic and paper records is accurate and reflects the services provided.
(b) Social workers should include sufficient and timely documentation in records to
facilitate the delivery of services and to ensure continuity of services provided to clients
in the future.
(c) Social workers' documentation should protect clients' privacy to the extent that is
possible and appropriate and should include only information that is directly relevant to
the delivery of services.
(d) Social workers should store records following the termination of services to ensure
reasonable future access. Records should be maintained for the number of years
required by relevant laws, agency policies, and contracts.
3.05 Billing
Social workers should establish and maintain billing practices that accurately reflect the
nature and extent of services provided and that identify who provided the service in the
practice setting.
3.06 Client Transfer
(a) When an individual who is receiving services from another agency or colleague
contacts a social worker for services, the social worker should carefully consider the
client's needs before agreeing to provide services. To minimize possible confusion and
conflict, social workers should discuss with potential clients the nature of the clients'
current relationship with other service providers and the implications, including
possible benefits or risks, of entering into a relationship with a new service provider.
(b) If a new client has been served by another agency or colleague, social workers
should discuss with the client whether consultation with the previous service provider is
in the client's best interest.
3.07 Administration
(a) Social work administrators should advocate within and outside their agencies for
adequate resources to meet clients' needs.
(b) Social workers should advocate for resource allocation procedures that are open and
fair. When not all clients' needs can be met, an allocation procedure should be
developed that is nondiscriminatory and based on appropriate and consistently applied
principles.
(c) Social workers who are administrators should take reasonable steps to ensure that
adequate agency or organizational resources are available to provide appropriate staff
supervision.
(d) Social work administrators should take reasonable steps to ensure that the working
environment for which they are responsible is consistent with and encourages
compliance with the NASW Code of Ethics. Social work administrators should take
reasonable steps to eliminate any conditions in their organizations that violate, interfere
with, or discourage compliance with the Code.
3.08 Continuing Education and Staff Development
Social work administrators and supervisors should take reasonable steps to provide or
arrange for continuing education and staff development for all staff for whom they are
responsible. Continuing education and staff development should address current
knowledge and emerging developments related to social work practice and ethics.
3.09 Commitments to Employers
(a) Social workers generally should adhere to commitments made to employers and
employing organizations.
(b) Social workers should work to improve employing agencies' policies and procedures
and the efficiency and effectiveness of their services.
(c) Social workers should take reasonable steps to ensure that employers are aware of
social workers' ethical obligations as set forth in the NASW Code of Ethics and of the
implications of those obligations for social work practice.
(d) Social workers should not allow an employing organization's policies, procedures,
regulations, or administrative orders to interfere with their ethical practice of social
work. Social workers should take reasonable steps to ensure that their employing
organizations' practices are consistent with the NASW Code of Ethics.
(e) Social workers should act to prevent and eliminate discrimination in the employing
organization's work assignments and in its employment policies and practices.
(f) Social workers should accept employment or arrange student field placements only
in organizations that exercise fair personnel practices.
(g) Social workers should be diligent stewards of the resources of their employing
organizations, wisely conserving funds where appropriate and never misappropriating
funds or using them for unintended purposes.
3.10 Labor-Management Disputes
(a) Social workers may engage in organized action, including the formation of and
participation in labor unions, to improve services to clients and working conditions.
(b) The actions of social workers who are involved in labor-management disputes, job
actions, or labor strikes should be guided by the profession's values, ethical principles,
and ethical standards. Reasonable differences of opinion exist among social workers
concerning their primary obligation as professionals during an actual or threatened labor
strike or job action. Social workers should carefully examine relevant issues and their
possible impact on clients before deciding on a course of action.

4. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities as Professionals

4.01 Competence
(a) Social workers should accept responsibility or employment only on the basis of
existing competence or the intention to acquire the necessary competence.
(b) Social workers should strive to become and remain proficient in professional
practice and the performance of professional functions. Social workers should critically
examine and keep current with emerging knowledge relevant to social work. Social
workers should routinely review the professional literature and participate in continuing
education relevant to social work practice and social work ethics.
(c) Social workers should base practice on recognized knowledge, including empirically
based knowledge, relevant to social work and social work ethics.
4.02 Discrimination
Social workers should not practice, condone, facilitate, or collaborate with any form of
discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion,
immigration status, or mental or physical ability.
4.03 Private Conduct
Social workers should not permit their private conduct to interfere with their ability to
fulfill their professional responsibilities.
4.04 Dishonesty, Fraud, and Deception
Social workers should not participate in, condone, or be associated with dishonesty,
fraud, or deception.
4.05 Impairment
(a) Social workers should not allow their own personal problems, psychosocial distress,
legal problems, substance abuse, or mental health difficulties to interfere with their
professional judgment and performance or to jeopardize the best interests of people for
whom they have a professional responsibility.
(b) Social workers whose personal problems, psychosocial distress, legal problems,
substance abuse, or mental health difficulties interfere with their professional judgment
and performance should immediately seek consultation and take appropriate remedial
action by seeking professional help, making adjustments in workload, terminating
practice, or taking any other steps necessary to protect clients and others.
4.06 Misrepresentation
(a) Social workers should make clear distinctions between statements made and actions
engaged in as a private individual and as a representative of the social work profession,
a professional social work organization, or the social worker's employing agency.
(b) Social workers who speak on behalf of professional social work organizations
should accurately represent the official and authorized positions of the organizations.
(c) Social workers should ensure that their representations to clients, agencies, and the
public of professional qualifications, credentials, education, competence, affiliations,
services provided, or results to be achieved are accurate. Social workers should claim
only those relevant professional credentials they actually possess and take steps to
correct any inaccuracies or misrepresentations of their credentials by others.
4.07 Solicitations
(a) Social workers should not engage in uninvited solicitation of potential clients who,
because of their circumstances, are vulnerable to undue influence, manipulation, or
coercion.
(b) Social workers should not engage in solicitation of testimonial endorsements
(including solicitation of consent to use a client's prior statement as a testimonial
endorsement) from current clients or from other people who, because of their particular
circumstances, are vulnerable to undue influence.
4.08 Acknowledging Credit
(a) Social workers should take responsibility and credit, including authorship credit,
only for work they have actually performed and to which they have contributed.
(b) Social workers should honestly acknowledge the work of and the contributions
made by others.

5. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to the Social

Work Profession
5.01 Integrity of the Profession
(a) Social workers should work toward the maintenance and promotion of high
standards of practice.
(b) Social workers should uphold and advance the values, ethics, knowledge, and
mission of the profession. Social workers should protect, enhance, and improve the
integrity of the profession through appropriate study and research, active discussion,
and responsible criticism of the profession.
(c) Social workers should contribute time and professional expertise to activities that
promote respect for the value, integrity, and competence of the social work profession.
These activities may include teaching, research, consultation, service, legislative
testimony, presentations in the community, and participation in their professional
organizations.
(d) Social workers should contribute to the knowledge base of social work and share
with colleagues their knowledge related to practice, research, and ethics. Social workers
should seek to contribute to the profession's literature and to share their knowledge at
professional meetings and conferences.
(e) Social workers should act to prevent the unauthorized and unqualified practice of
social work.
5.02 Evaluation and Research
(a) Social workers should monitor and evaluate policies, the implementation of
programs, and practice interventions.
(b) Social workers should promote and facilitate evaluation and research to contribute to
the development of knowledge.
(c) Social workers should critically examine and keep current with emerging knowledge
relevant to social work and fully use evaluation and research evidence in their
professional practice.
(d) Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should carefully consider possible
consequences and should follow guidelines developed for the protection of evaluation
and research participants. Appropriate institutional review boards should be consulted.
(e) Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should obtain voluntary and
written informed consent from participants, when appropriate, without any implied or
actual deprivation or penalty for refusal to participate; without undue inducement to
participate; and with due regard for participants' well-being, privacy, and dignity.
Informed consent should include information about the nature, extent, and duration of
the participation requested and disclosure of the risks and benefits of participation in the
research.
(f) When using electronic technology to facilitate evaluation or research, social workers
should ensure that participants provide informed consent for the use of such technology.
Social workers should assess whether participants are able to use the technology and,
when appropriate, offer reasonable alternatives to participate in the evaluation or
research.
(g) When evaluation or research participants are incapable of giving informed consent,
social workers should provide an appropriate explanation to the participants, obtain the
participants' assent to the extent they are able, and obtain written consent from an
appropriate proxy.
(h) Social workers should never design or conduct evaluation or research that does not
use consent procedures, such as certain forms of naturalistic observation and archival
research, unless rigorous and responsible review of the research has found it to be
justified because of its prospective scientific, educational, or applied value and unless
equally effective alternative procedures that do not involve waiver of consent are not
feasible.
(i) Social workers should inform participants of their right to withdraw from evaluation
and research at any time without penalty.
(j) Social workers should take appropriate steps to ensure that participants in evaluation
and research have access to appropriate supportive services.
(k) Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should protect participants from
unwarranted physical or mental distress, harm, danger, or deprivation.
(l) Social workers engaged in the evaluation of services should discuss collected
information only for professional purposes and only with people professionally
concerned with this information.
(m) Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should ensure the anonymity or
confidentiality of participants and of the data obtained from them. Social workers
should inform participants of any limits of confidentiality, the measures that will be
taken to ensure confidentiality, and when any records containing research data will be
destroyed.
(n) Social workers who report evaluation and research results should protect
participants' confidentiality by omitting identifying information unless proper consent
has been obtained authorizing disclosure.
(o) Social workers should report evaluation and research findings accurately. They
should not fabricate or falsify results and should take steps to correct any errors later
found in published data using standard publication methods.
(p) Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should be alert to and avoid
conflicts of interest and dual relationships with participants, should inform participants
when a real or potential conflict of interest arises, and should take steps to resolve the
issue in a manner that makes participants' interests primary.
(q) Social workers should educate themselves, their students, and their colleagues about
responsible research practices.
6. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to the Broader
Society
6.01 Social Welfare
Social workers should promote the general welfare of society, from local to global
levels, and the development of people, their communities, and their environments.
Social workers should advocate for living conditions conducive to the fulfillment of
basic human needs and should promote social, economic, political, and cultural values
and institutions that are compatible with the realization of social justice.
6.02 Public Participation
Social workers should facilitate informed participation by the public in shaping social
policies and institutions.
6.03 Public Emergencies
Social workers should provide appropriate professional services in public emergencies
to the greatest extent possible.
6.04 Social and Political Action
(a) Social workers should engage in social and political action that seeks to ensure that
all people have equal access to the resources, employment, services, and opportunities
they require to meet their basic human needs and to develop fully. Social workers
should be aware of the impact of the political arena on practice and should advocate for
changes in policy and legislation to improve social conditions in order to meet basic
human needs and promote social justice.
(b) Social workers should act to expand choice and opportunity for all people, with
special regard for vulnerable, disadvantaged, oppressed, and exploited people and
groups.
(c) Social workers should promote conditions that encourage respect for cultural and
social diversity within the United States and globally. Social workers should promote
policies and practices that demonstrate respect for difference, support the expansion of
cultural knowledge and resources, advocate for programs and institutions that
demonstrate cultural competence, and promote policies that safeguard the rights of and
confirm equity and social justice for all people.
(d) Social workers should act to prevent and eliminate domination of, exploitation of,
and discrimination against any person, group, or class on the basis of race, ethnicity,
national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital
status, political belief, religion, immigration status, or mental or physical ability.