Ethics and Social Worker Safety

Course Description:
The course on Ethics and Social Worker Safety explores the delicate balance that social workers must maintain between fulfilling their ethical duty to serve clients and safeguarding their own personal well-being. Social workers are often placed in challenging, sometimes dangerous, situations while working with clients who may exhibit aggressive or unpredictable behavior. This course will delve into how social workers can uphold professional codes of conduct while taking necessary precautions to ensure their safety. Emphasis will be placed on ethical obligations, risk assessment, safety protocols, confidentiality, reporting requirements, and handling ethical dilemmas. The course will provide practical guidance through case vignettes and a discussion of best practices.

Course Goals:
This course aims to equip social workers with the knowledge and tools needed to manage the inherent risks in their profession while maintaining their ethical responsibilities. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the complexities of working with high-risk clients, learn effective risk assessment techniques, and explore the best practices for ensuring their safety while adhering to ethical standards. Through discussion of ethical dilemmas and real-life scenarios, attendees will be better prepared to navigate these challenges in their practice.

CEU Learning Objectives:
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the ethical obligations social workers have in providing services to clients, even in potentially dangerous situations.
2. Conduct risk assessments to evaluate safety concerns in client interactions and take appropriate preventative actions.
3. Apply safety protocols such as having clear communication plans, conducting home visits with colleagues, and knowing when to involve law enforcement.
4. Balance client confidentiality with safety concerns, recognizing when disclosure is necessary for protection while adhering to ethical codes.
5. Implement ethical decision-making when confronted with situations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, including reporting requirements and managing client relationships.
6. Document safety concerns accurately and ethically while maintaining confidentiality in client records.
7. Understand when and how to seek support through clinical consults and case staffing to address complex or high-risk cases.
8. Evaluate case vignettes and real-world scenarios to apply best practices in ensuring both client care and personal safety.
9. Develop strategies for navigating ethical dilemmas related to social worker safety, including when to withdraw from a case and ensuring continuity of care for clients.

Target Audience:
This course is ideal for mental health professionals, including social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and other practitioners who wish to enhance their understanding of safety protocols and ethical responsibilities in the social work field. It is appropriate for professionals at any stage of their career, from beginners to seasoned practitioners.

Course Prerequisites:
No prerequisites are required. This course is designed for social workers and other mental health professionals at all experience levels who are looking to expand their knowledge on managing safety and ethics in their practice.

About the Presenter:
Vanessa Valles, LCSW-S is a seasoned mental health professional with over 22 years of experience. As the owner of a private and group practice, she has dedicated the past 17 years to educating and mentoring other professionals. Vanessa is the author of The Terrible, Super Sad Day, a children's book that serves as a clinical tool for helping professionals working with children who have experienced loss or trauma. She has held various roles in the mental health field, including administrator, clinical trainer, quality assurance officer, field instructor, and clinical supervisor, and has provided CEUs to hundreds of mental health practitioners. Her broad background combines clinical expertise with educational leadership, making her a trusted resource in both practical and theoretical aspects of counseling.

Host or Publisher A New Start Counseling & Vanessa Valles LCSW-S