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Code
of Practice
3
October 1998
Preamble
In
accordance with Section 10 of the Social Workers Registration Ordinance
(Chapter 505), the Social Workers Registration Board approves and issues
this Code of Practice for the purpose of providing practical guidance
in respect of the professional conduct of registered social workers (including
ethical matters relating to such conduct).
The
primary objective of the Code of Practice is for the protection of clients
and other members of society. In order to enhance public trust and confidence
in the social work profession, the issue of a code of practice is essential.
This
document serves as a guide to the everyday conduct of a Registered Social
Worker (social worker). In accordance with Section ll of the Social Workers
Registration Ordinance, this Code of Practice will be used as a basis
for adjudication when the conduct of a social worker is alleged to violate
the standards specified in this document. It represents standards of ethical
behaviour for a social worker in professional relationships with clients,
with colleagues, with agency, with profession, and with society as a whole.
It is applied to all the individual conduct which is associated with an
individual's status as a social worker.
Social
workers are required to cooperate in the implementation of this code and
abide by any disciplinary rulings based on it. Social workers should take
adequate measures and action to prevent, discourage, correct, or expose
the unethical conduct of colleagues. Social workers should take reasonable
and appropriate measures to ensure all staff under their supervision and
persons assisting them (including volunteers) to avoid violating the Code
of Practice and harming the benefits of clients.
Basic
Values and Beliefs
| 1. |
The
social worker's primary mission is to help people in need and to
strive to address social problems. |
| 2. |
The
social worker respects the unique value and dignity of every human
being irrespective of one's family origin, ethnicity, nationality,
sex, sexual orientation, age, family status, beliefs, political
affiliation , mental and physical abilities, social and economic
status or contribution to society. |
| 3. |
The
social worker believes that individuals have the potential to develop
and, thus accepts a responsibility to encourage and facilitate the
self-realization of individuals with due regard to the interest
of others. |
| 4. |
The
social worker accepts responsibility to advance social justice and
to safeguard the cause of human rights. |
| 5. |
The
social worker believes that each society, regardless of its form,
should provide maximum benefits to its members. |
| 6. |
The
social worker accepts responsibility to devote professional knowledge
and skills to the betterment of individuals and society, with the
aim to empower people to act on their own behalves as far as possible.
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| 7. |
The
social worker recognizes the central importance of human relationships
and seeks to strengthen relationships among people in a purposeful
effort to promote, maintain and enhance the well-being of individuals,
families, social groups, organizations and communities for the prevention
and relief of hardship and suffering. |
Principles
of Practice
Related
to Clients
| 1. |
The
social worker has a primary responsibility to the clients. |
| 2. |
The
social worker acknowledges a responsibility to inform the clients
of their rights and help them to obtain appropriate services. Clients
should also be informed of, as far as possible, obligations and
possible consequences associated with services provided to them.
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| 3. |
The
social worker should inform clients fully, as far as possible, about
the limits of confidentiality in a given situation, and the purpose
for which information is obtained, and how it may be used. In publication
of case material, the social worker should make the necessary and
responsible efforts to remove all identification information and
to seek consent, as far as possible, from the client and the employing
agency. |
| 4. |
The
social worker should not abuse the worker-client relationship in
the pursuance of personal interests. |
| 5. |
The
social worker should not have sexual contact with client(s). |
| 6. |
If
and when fee for service is required, the social worker should ensure
that the clients would not be denied timely services they need due
to financial constraints. |
Related
to Colleagues
| 1. |
The
social worker should pay due respect to the differences of opinion
and practice of other social workers, other professionals and volunteers.
Any suggestion or criticism should be expressed and conflicts resolved
in a responsible manner. |
| 2. |
The
social worker should co-operate as far as possible with other social
workers to enhance service effectiveness. |
| 3. |
The
social worker should bring to the attention of appropriate bodies
any violation of the Code of Practice that puts the interests of
social work service recipients at risk, and should be ready to defend
other social workers against unjust accusations. |
| 4. |
The
social worker respects the clients' right of choice and should not,
with due respect to other agencies and colleagues, solicit the clients
of other social workers. |
| 5. |
For
joint practice, confidential communication other than that related
to the clients that are shared by other co-workers should not be
conveyed to clients without the explicit permission from the authors
of such communications. |
Related
to Agency
| 1. |
The
social worker should be responsible to the employing agency for
the efficient and effective performance of professional duties.
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| 2. |
The
social worker should act constructively and responsibly to influence
and to improve policies, procedures, and practice of the employing
agency in order to continuously improve the quality of service and
to prevent the social worker from violating the Code of Practice
when enforcing agency policy. |
| 3. |
The
social worker should make clear in any public statements or when
undertaking public activities whether one is acting in a personal
capacity or on behalf of a group or an organization. |
| 4. |
The
social worker should not use institutional affiliation to recruit
clients for private practice without the consent of the institution.
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Related
to Profession
| 1. |
The
social worker should maintain honesty, integrity and responsibility
in professional practice. |
| 2. |
The
social worker should uphold the values and ethics, and advance the
knowledge of the profession. |
| 3. |
In
criticizing the profession, the social worker should do so in a
responsible and constructive manner. |
| 4. |
The
social worker should make no misrepresentation and/or false claim
as to professional qualifications, nature of service, method of
service or results to be achieved. |
| 5. |
The
social worker should accept responsibility for upgrading his/her
professional skills and knowledge. |
| 6. |
The
social worker should take responsibility to help those who are entering
the profession to establish, strengthen and develop their ethics,
values, skills and knowledge. |
Related
to Society
| 1. |
The
social worker recognizes the need to bring to the attention of policy
makers or the general public any policies, procedures or activities
of governments, societies or agencies which create, contribute to,
or militate against the relief of hardship and suffering. |
| 2. |
The
social worker recognizes the need to advocate changes in the formulation
of policies and legislation to improve social conditions, to promote
social justice and general welfare of the society. The social worker
also recognizes the need to contribute to the implementation of
policies for human welfare and should not allow one's knowledge,
skills or experience to be used to further unjust policies or inhuman
practices. |
| 3. |
The
social worker recognizes the need to prevent and eliminate discrimination
and recognizes the need to strive for a more reasonable distribution
of resources and to ensure that all persons should have equal opportunity
to access to the necessary resources and services. |
| 4. |
The
social worker recognizes the need to promote conditions that encourage
respect for diversity of cultures in the society. |
| 5. |
The
social worker recognizes the need to encourage informed participation
by the public in formulating and developing social policies and
institutions. |
Note
1 Clients
Referring
to direct service recipients (including their immediate family members
and next of kin) receiving individual, group services or program activities
provided by the social worker.
Note
2 Interest of clients
Social
workers should make professional judgement after considering and levelling
the interest of clients and other related bodies (including family members,
agency, community and society, etc.).
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