Ethics and Confidentiality 1 Washington State Department of Social & Health Services E-Learning: Self-Paced Presentation

How to Use this Presentation 2 You should be seeing a window like the one shown below. Click the buttons at the lower left to advance the presentation. This presentation contains NO audio. Click here to advance the presentation Be sure to read the notes wherever they appear.

1.Complete this Presentation 2.Review the NASAW code of ethics (part of the Module 1 checklist) 3. Discuss the content with your supervisor as part of the Module 1 checklist, and with your coach, and cohort as applicable Using this Presentation 3 This self-paced presentation is part of an instructional sequence. (Click the step buttons at lower left to advance the presentation)

Ethics and Confidentiality 4 Washington State Department of Social & Health Services E-Learning: Self-Paced Presentation

Child Welfare Social Work Personal vs. Professional Values Know your personal values/biases Know your role Ethical Imperatives Clear professional boundaries Competence Integrity Client self-determination Confidentiality 5

6 Ethical Imperative: Professional Boundaries

7 Public employees should not make decisions in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. RCW , Special privileges RCW , Gifts RCW , Limitations on gifts RCW , Employment after public service Ethical Conduct: Boundaries

 Use of State Position  Conflict of Interest  Receiving/exchanging  Money  Gifts  Food or drink  Services  Providing lesser/greater services 8

Gifts DSHS policy regarding accepting gifts in the course of work: Administrative Policy No Administrative Policy No The basic expectation is that nothing will be accepted or exchanged with clients or with other professionals in the course of our work. 9 Why might this be the expectation? What might the impact or appearance be of accepting gifts, money, even food? Answer: May create an attitude where the social worker feels beholden to a client/agency/partner, where they intentionally or subconsciously provide greater services to that person, or even where the social worker’s actions are not affected but there is the perception of favoritism or preference. Of course – there are cultural implications in the refusal of small gifts or food/beverage. In any situation you should weight the potential pros and cons of accepting an offering such as this with no monetary value. Your supervisor and peers are a good resource for teasing this out.

10 A state officer or employee may not use his or her state position to secure special privileges or to grant exemptions to benefit himself, herself, family members, or other persons. Ethical Conduct: Boundaries Use of State Position

11 Ethical Conduct: Boundaries Conflict of Interest & Dual Relationships A conflict of interest occurs when you have a private interest that may benefit from your actions, or when a private interest could interfere with official duties An interest need not be financial to create a conflict of interest Most conflicts result from the exercise of discretionary authority

12 Ethical Imperative: Competence

Ethical Conduct: Competence  Reasonable knowledge of primary issues of concern  Reasonable knowledge of treatment approaches & their efficacy  Cultural competence  Willingness to seek help and guidance when needed 13

Culturally Competent Practice  One’s ability to work in a way that is effective given the normative expectations of a given community  A willingness to avoid assumptions and to be interested in cultural factors in the broadest sense  Is a continuing process  Begins with self-awareness  Requires basic knowledge of human diversity 14

15 Ethical Imperative: Integrity

Ethical Conduct: Integrity Employees in public service should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organizations that might influence them in the performance of their duties. RCW , Activities incompatible with public duties RCW , Compensation for official duties or nonperformance RCW , Compensation for outside activities RCW , Honoraria 16

Ethical Conduct: Integrity Public employees must place the public’s interest before any private interest or outside obligation - choices need to made on the merits. RCW , Activities incompatible with public duties RCW , Financial interests in transactions RCW , Assisting in transactions 17 Objectivity

Ethical Conduct: Integrity Public employees have a duty to conserve public resources and funds against misuse and abuse. RCW , Special privileges RCW , Use of persons, money, or property for private gain RCW , Use of public resources for political campaigns WAC Admin Policy Stewardship

Ethical Conduct: Integrity Will my use of state resources result in added costs or any other disadvantage to the state? Am I using this resource in order to avoid personal expense? Am I confident that my use of state resources will not compromise the security or integrity of state information or software? Are state resources being used for purposes that could be embarrassing for my agency if reported publicly? 19 Questions to Ask Yourself

The Green Zone Any Use that is Reasonably Related to Your Official Duties Combined Fund Campaign

The Yellow Zone Personal Use OK Under Limited Circumstances Really de minimis exceptions T here is little or no cost to the state; There is no interference with the performance of official duties; The use is brief in duration and frequency; The use does not distract from the conduct of state business; and The use does not disrupt other state employees and does not obligate them to make a personal use of state resources.

The Red Zone Prohibited Uses Outside business interests Commercial uses Illegal or unprofessional activities Political activities, including lobbying

23 Ethical Imperative: Client Self-Determination

Ethical Conduct: Client Self-Determination Know your role Identification of role at initial contact Full and complete identification of concerns Documentation that is accurate and fairly reflects what occurred Inform clients of possible impacts of their choices Use motivational interviewing to enhance motivation for change 24

25 Ethical Imperative: Confidentiality

Ethical Conduct: Confidentiality Keep information confidential – Except in Duty to Warn situation – Mandatory reporting requirements Inform clients of the limits of confidentiality Inform all of documentation requirements Follow special protocols for protected information – HIV – Certain pieces of info when DV is occurring 26

What you find is that the tough ethical choices are not between good and evil, but rather between two goods: Truth versus Loyalty Individual versus Community Short-term versus Long-term Justice versus Mercy Conclusion: Ethical Choices