CCPS Extended Ethics Word by VTSS

Directions for an extra 3 points for Ethics Training.

hebbal — 2023-10-10 20:22:03 UTC

1. Please read through the following changes to our NASW Ethics:
Ethics Alive
Highlighted Revisions
2. Feel free to review other resources to add to your learning.
3. Respond to the Padlet by October 29.
4. Come prepared to highlight your learning (about a minute response, depending on how many participate) during the November 3 session. The presenters will guide you.

Terminology, Conflict of Interest, and Technology are all important to keep in mind as a school social worker. It is important to maintain appropriate boundaries and use respectful language when communicating with students, teachers, and families. Technology has opened our world and increased the ways that we may have contact with each other. It is important to always maintain healthy communication and boundaries.

2023-10-30 18:01:33 UTC

Ethics Example/Scenario

2023-11-02 16:05:22 UTC

Given the wide and liberal use of technology, parents now expect to utilize and communicate with SSWs using email, text and video conference. These means of communicating become complicated, when thinking about our code of ethics. SSWs must consider such things as, when I am texting with a parent, is the messaging safe/secure, or could the messaging somehow become exposed and the SSW held liable for the breach of confidentiality? Also, should the SSW limit what types of information they text, given privacy concerns.

Shared Highlights

2023-11-02 16:11:51 UTC

Social workers should discuss with clients the social workers’ policies concerning the use of technology in the provision of professional services; 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; and 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/A

2023-11-02 16:12:08 UTC

N/A

3 Changes that impact my work as a SSW

2023-11-02 16:27:46 UTC

The major changes that I notice most involve communication with parents. As the use of technology has increased, so has the expectation that SSWs will communicate with parents electronically. Specific changes that impact SSWs work electronically include reviewing with our clients a technology use agreement; ensuring that electronic communication is password protected and encrypted; and notifications to clients, should a breach of electronic communication occur. Given these specific highlights/changes within the code of ethics, I see text messaging with parents as the greatest threat to a SSWs chance of breaking the ethics regulations, since CCPS does not provide us a way to communicate with parents via text message. It may be best to use our already secured communication methonds via our professional Gmail accounts (i.e., email and video conferencing), rather than using a Google number that we create, for example, to text families.

2023-11-02 17:11:35 UTC

I agree with the previous two entries. Technology has been had tremendous growth in how we communicate with parents and students. With technology comes concerns with confidentiality and how to ensure we are maintaining it. I agree that texting parents or other agencies can be of risk when looking at confidentiality and professional boundaries. Additionally, conflict of interest is important as we may serve in many roles within CCPS - parent, SW, co-worker etc. We need to be mindful of social media, and how our role impacts our practice as a CCPS SW

Confidentiality example

2023-11-02 17:18:46 UTC

The use of technology has expanded as has the expectations of communicating with technology (email, gchat, text) When communicating with another professional or parent, it is important to be mindful of what is being typed/recorded. CCPS does not use an encryption program.

Changes in Code of Ethics

2023-11-03 13:08:52 UTC

Social media guidelines, electronic communication, and dual relationships are all areas that impact our work. Clearer guidelines on social media interactions help school social workers know what is appropriate and helps maintain clear boundaries. Some school staff accept friend requests after a student has graduated or accept friend requests from parents. I have never felt comfortable with that on a personal level and appreciate it being made clear. Texting parents is a gray area. Many of our families simply do not use their voicemail or answer the phone. I have much better luck texting them to set up sociologicals. I use a google voice number and try to put limited information in the text. I think many of the changes were self explanatory for social workers who read the code in the spirit of protecting clients versus its wording. The changes have an impact on the work, but does not substantially change the way in which I do my work.

Example

2023-11-03 13:14:13 UTC

I had a situation where an elementary school student reported that another child looked down her shirt in the bathroom and I was tasked with investigating the situation and calling the student's mother. The mother, has a full voicemail and no email on file. I needed to reach out to the mother before end of day and could not get a hold of her. I ended up texting her, giving her my name and letting her know that it was not an emergency, but that I wanted to inform her of a situation at school. I told her to ask the front office staff to walkie for me. She called back within five minutes and we were able to discuss the situation. I wish there was training like this for all staff, because I think too much is shared via electronic communication.

Removal of identifiable person

2023-11-03 13:26:35 UTC

Standard 1.07(c) was amended by removing the term “identifiable person.” Under the revised version of this section, an exception to confidentiality arises when “disclosure of confidential information is necessary to prevent serious, foreseeable, and imminent harm to a client or others.” Note that this section permits social workers to disclose confidential information under certain circumstances; it does not require them to do so.

The removal of “identifiable person” is important for situations such as threats of terrorism, school shootings, or other violence in which the risk is serious, imminent, and foreseeable, even though the worker cannot specifically identify the individuals or groups at risk. In some jurisdictions, mandatory reporting laws require social workers to report information or take other steps to address particular risks of harm, even though the worker cannot identify the particular people at risk. This revision ensures that the worker is ethically permitted to follow such laws and reflects changes in many states’ laws since NASW adopted the current Code of Ethics.

Duty to warn law

2023-11-03 15:53:12 UTC

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter24/section54.1-2400.1/#:~:text=A%20mental%20health%20service%20provider,death%20to%20an%20identified%20or