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In this Discussion, you apply ethical decision making to a true-to-life scenario in social work practice. This activity takes place in the Discussion Board, but you do not need to respond to your peers. This Discussion works as follows:

The goal of this activity is to simulate how a change in circumstance or information can affect your ethical decision-making process—and in that way mirror common situations in actual practice.

Resources

 

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

To Prepare

· Read Chapter 12 in the course text.

· Review the NASW Code of Ethics.

· Review the Ethical Decision-Making Tree.

· Review the scenarios below and choose one to respond to for this Discussion.

Scenario 1

You are in the first weeks of your internship, and you hear the employees discussing a client in the hallway. They are using terms like “junkie,” “loser,” and “hopeless.” How do you handle this situation?

Scenario 2

You are terminating with a client, and the client asks if they can take a picture of the two of you together to post on their social media page. They want to say how great you were. What are some considerations before responding to their request?

Scenario 3

You are doing an intake on a new client, and they tell you that they recognize you from your church. You do not know “specifically” who they are—but they do seem familiar. How do you respond to this?

By Day 3

· Within the context of your agency, explain what your first choice of action would be based on the scenario you chose, and explain why you made that choice. Support your answer using the NASW Code of Ethics and your agency policy when applicable. Note: Be sure to indicate which scenario you chose in the title of your response.

· Your Instructor will then post an evaluation of the scenario in general terms and how to think critically about it.

 

By Day 6

· Imagine that each scenario has changed in the following way:

Scenario 1

You overhear the colleagues share that the client stated he wanted to “die,” and if he didn’t get admitted, he would “kill himself.” One of the colleagues stated, “He always says that—he’s never going to go through with it. Just ignore him.”

Scenario 2

After talking with your field Instructor, who has told you “no,” you find out that the client has already snuck a picture of the two of you and has posted it on their social media page.

Scenario 3

After talking with your supervisor, and addressing your conflict with the client, they still want to proceed with you as their social worker. During the session, the client admits that they have been having an affair with the pastor, and they have been stealing from the offering tray.

· Respond by explaining what your next steps would be in the situation, and explain why you chose those steps.

 

NOTE: BOTH SCENARIOS 1 Scenario 1

You are in the first weeks of your internship, and you hear the employees discussing a client in the hallway. They are using terms like “junkie,” “loser,” and “hopeless.” How do you handle this situation?

 

By Day 6

· Imagine that each scenario has changed in the following way:

Scenario 1

You overhear the colleagues share that the client stated he wanted to “die,” and if he didn’t get admitted, he would “kill himself.” One of the colleagues stated, “He always says that—he’s never going to go through with it. Just ignore him.”

 

SOLUTION 

Initial Response (By Day 3)

Scenario Chosen: Scenario 1

In the first weeks of my internship, I overheard employees discussing a client using derogatory language such as “junkie,” “loser,” and “hopeless.” My first choice of action would be to report the incident to my field instructor or supervisor immediately.

This behavior is a clear violation of the NASW Code of Ethics, particularly under the following sections:

• 1.01 Commitment to Clients – Social workers’ primary responsibility is to promote the well-being of clients. Using stigmatizing language undermines that responsibility.

• 1.12 Derogatory Language – Social workers should not use derogatory language in verbal or written communications to or about clients. This includes using any demeaning or discriminatory labels.

• 2.01 Respect – Social workers should treat colleagues with respect and work to prevent unethical conduct in the profession.

In terms of agency context, most social work organizations have anti-harassment and professional conduct policies in place. My responsibility, even as an intern, is to advocate for ethical standards and ensure the client’s dignity and confidentiality are respected.

I would document what I overheard and bring it to my supervisor’s attention privately. If the behavior persists and my supervisor does not address it, I would follow the chain of command, potentially escalating to the agency’s ethics officer or HR representative.

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Response to New Circumstance (By Day 6)

Updated Scenario:
You overhear the colleagues share that the client stated he wanted to “die,” and if he didn’t get admitted, he would “kill himself.” One of the colleagues stated, “He always says that—he’s never going to go through with it. Just ignore him.”

Given this update, my response becomes even more urgent. The ethical and legal responsibility to protect clients from harm (including self-harm) now takes precedence. According to the NASW Code of Ethics 1.01 and 1.07, social workers are obligated to assess and respond to threats of suicide, regardless of prior history.

My immediate steps would include:

1. Reporting this threat of suicide to my field instructor or supervisor without delay.

2. Advocating for a formal risk assessment to be performed immediately to determine the severity of the client’s statements.

3. Documenting the statement made by the client and the colleagues’ dismissal of it.

4. If the agency does not respond appropriately, I would escalate the matter to the clinical director or emergency services to ensure the client’s safety.

Dismissing suicide threats as mere manipulation is a dangerous and unethical assumption. Every expression of suicidal ideation should be taken seriously. The failure to act can lead to catastrophic consequences and significant liability for the agency and practitioners involved.

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Conclusion

This scenario reinforces the importance of ethical vigilance, even as an intern. Upholding client dignity and safety is non-negotiable. It also emphasizes the need to foster a culture of respect and compassion, especially among interdisciplinary teams.

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References

National Association of Social Workers. (2021). Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

Reamer, F. G. (2018). Ethics and risk management in online and distance social work. NASW Press.

 

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