The NASW has
updated the Code of Ethics, its essential guide to social work
practice and a hefty part of the social work licensing exam.
Changes for 2020 and 2021 are
highlighted here. Among the newer, noteworthy alterations, this
paragraph regarding self care:
Professional self-care is paramount for competent and
ethical social work practice. Professional demands, challenging
workplace climates, and exposure to trauma warrant that social
workers maintain personal and professional health, safety, and
integrity. Social work organizations, agencies, and educational
institutions are encouraged to promote organizational policies,
practices, and materials to support social workers'
self-care.
And this, under 1.05 Cultural Competence:
(c) Social workers should demonstrate awareness and cultural
humility by engaging in critical self-reflection (understanding
their own bias and engaging in self-correction); recognizing
clients as experts of their own culture; committing to life-long
learning; and holding institutions accountable for advancing
cultural humility.
Other recent and recent-ish changes include this tweak to the
Informed Consent section:
(c) Social workers should demonstrate awareness and cultural
humility by engaging in critical self-reflection (understanding
their own bias and engaging in self-correction); recognizing
clients as experts of their own culture; committing to life-long
learning; and holding institutions accountable for advancing
cultural humility.
This, under the Competence heading:
(d) Social workers who use technology in the provision of
social work services should ensure that they have the necessary
knowledge and skills to provide such services in a competent
manner. This includes an understanding of the special communication
challenges when using technology and the ability to implement
strategies to address these challenges.
And, from 1.05 Cultural Awareness and Social Diversity:
(d) Social workers who provide electronic social work
services should be aware of cultural and socioeconomic differences
among clients and how they may use electronic technology. Social
workers should assess cultural, environmental, economic, mental or
physical ability, linguistic, and other issues that may affect the
delivery or use of these services.
And on from there, including a big section amended in 1.07,
Privacy and Confidentiality regarding electronic communications and
record keeping. But that's a year old-you already knew it by heart,
right?
This, or material nearby in the COE, will be on the exam.
Anything in the Code of Ethics may show up on the ASWB exam.
Even as there's variation in the amount of macro, medication, or
diagnostic questions exam to exam, one guaranteed constant is
ethics. Learn it, know it, live it.
For practice questions covering ethics and everything else on
the social work exam, sign up with SWTP. If you're looking for
ethics-only practice, we've got that too (our Ethics Booster test).
Thousands of social workers have used Social Work Test Prep to
prepare for and pass the exam. Hope you'll join them soon.
Happy studying and good luck on the exam!