Nasw Code Of Ethics Summary

The author could foresee numerous ethical dilemmas potentially arising in the group including issues of confidentiality and competence. These potential ethical dilemmas while significant can be prepared for and possibly avoided or reduced in effect. Confidentiality is always seen as a significant potential ethical dilemma in working with clients. This risk is increased in groups, and especially in the group where most of the individuals live in the same housing complex. “Social workers should inform clients involved in family, couples, marital, or group counseling of the social worker’s, employer’s, and agency’s policy concerning the social worker’s disclosure of confidential information among the parties involved in the counseling” (NASW,
This group is a co-occurring group, which means the facilitators need to be knowledgeable in both addiction and mental health issues. The current facilitators had little experience with the treatment of individuals with mental illness, so some of the information the may potentially share of have shared could be wrong. The facilitators of the group are not social workers, so are not held to the NASW Code of Ethics. The author would not be able to ethically accept the position of facilitator without the proper knowledge of addiction recovery and mental illness treatment. Continuing education classes to improve knowledge in the required subject matter could address this ethical
A significant change to help the group develop is to approach the group from a earlier stage. The group’s cohesiveness and comfort level is not strong enough to move to the working stage. The author would achieve this by making new norms with the inclusion of the clients. With Peter’s departure, the remaining group is all newer members. It does not make sense to continue with norms that the clients did not create or agree to. By creating new norms the group could become more a unit, rather than individual clients at the whim of the group process. The clients also seem to not have any sort of commonality or relationship with one another, let alone know one another’s names. An activity to get to know one another would be a great way to increase cohesiveness and foster future mutual