Code of Ethics

of the
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS
Approved by the 1996 Delegate Assembly and Revised by the
1999 NASW Delegate Assembly

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.

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 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.1 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.

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. There are many instances in social work where
simple answers are not available to resolve complex ethical issues. Social workers should take
into consideration all the values, principles, and standards in this Code that are relevant to any

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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.

1. For information on NASW adjudication procedures, see NASW Procedures for the
Adjudication of Grievances.

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 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.

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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.

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 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 worker’s 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

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 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 who provide services via electronic media (such as computer,
telephone, radio, and television) should inform recipients of the limitations and risks
associated with such services.
(f) Social workers should obtain clients’ informed consent before audio taping or
videotaping clients or permitting observation of services to clients by a third party.

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.

1.05 Cultural Competence 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, age, marital status, political belief, religion, and mental or physical
disability.

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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.

1.07 Privacy and Confidentiality

(a) Social workers should respect clients’ right to privacy. Social workers should not
solicit private information from clients unless it is essential to providing services or
conducting social work evaluation or research. 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
other identifiable person. 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.

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(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. 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 in any setting unless
privacy can be ensured. Social workers should not discuss confidential information in
public or semipublic 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.

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 (m) Social workers should take precautions to ensure and maintain the confidentiality
of information transmitted to other parties through the use of computers, electronic mail,
facsimile machines, telephones and telephone answering machines, and other electronic
or computer technology. Disclosure of identifying information should be avoided
whenever possible.
(n) Social workers should transfer or dispose of clients’ records in a manner that
protects clients’ confidentiality and is consistent with state statutes governing records and
social work licensure.
(o) Social workers should take reasonable precautions to protect client confidentiality
in the event of the social worker’s termination of practice, incapacitation, or death.
(p) 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.
(q) 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.
(r) 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) 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 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

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 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 or physical
conduct of a sexual nature.

1.12 Derogatory Language

Social workers should not use derogatory language in their written or verbal
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,

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 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, relocation, illness,
disability, or death.

1.16 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.

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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
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, age, marital status, political belief, religion, and mental or physical disability.
(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.

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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 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 additional service is 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.

2.07 Sexual Relationships

(a) Social workers who function as supervisors or educators should not engage in
sexual activities or 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.

2.08 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 or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

2.09 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.

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 (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.

2.10 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.

2.11 Unethical Conduct of Colleagues

(a) Social workers should take adequate measures to discourage, prevent, expose, and
correct the unethical conduct of colleagues.
(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, an NASW committee on inquiry, 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 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.

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 (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.
(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. 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
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 state statutes or relevant contracts.

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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.

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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.

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 (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, age, marital status, political belief, religion, or mental or physical disability.

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.

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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 con-tribute 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

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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 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.
(g) 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.
(h) Social workers should inform participants of their right to withdraw from
evaluation and research at any time without penalty.
(i) Social workers should take appropriate steps to ensure that participants in
evaluation and research have access to appropriate supportive services.
(j) Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should protect participants from
unwarranted physical or mental distress, harm, danger, or deprivation.
(k) 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.
(l) 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.
(m) Social workers who report evaluation and research results should protect
participants’ confidentiality by omitting identifying information unless proper consent has

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 been obtained authorizing disclosure.
(n) 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.
(o) 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.
(p) 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.

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(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, age, marital status, political belief,
religion, or mental or physical disability.

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