Professional Behaviour

Confidentiality within the field

In accordance with our professional Code of Ethics we uphold the importance of confidentiality. As a student in the Social Work program, you are expected to familiarize yourself with and adhere to the confidentiality guidelines. You will learn about these in your Social Work, history, philosophy and theory course and will be reminded of them continually throughout your program.

Agencies will have policies, procedures and guidelines to protect the confidentiality of the individuals, groups, and communities they serve. Many agencies will ask students to sign a non-disclosure agreement . This is something that will be discussed at your first integration seminar as contributions in class must also reflect the kind of ethics and respect reflected in the Code of Ethics . Each instructor will conduct a conversation to establish some ground rules for the seminar group.

It is a violation of the Code of Ethics to discuss information that is shared in a seminar group to individuals outside of that group. We must respect one another as professional colleagues as much as we do our clients.

Dual relationships

A dual relationship occurs when multiple roles exist between a social worker and a client. The most obvious dual relationship occurs when a professional becomes a “friend” of a client and the boundaries very quickly become blurred. Our professional standards of practice clearly state that there is an increased risk of harm and potential exploitation of clients when a dual relationship occurs.

Students are expected to avoid dual relationships and to report any concern about multiple relationships with their Faculty Liaison and/or Field Instructor. Students must not enter into a practicum where a relative or a friend will be his or her direct supervisor. In circumstances where this is unavoidable, the student is required to have an open discussion with the Field Directors about how best to manage the dual relationship.

If you are working or volunteering in a human services role should be aware of the ACSW standard of practice regarding dual roles. To avoid a conflict of interest, you may not mix practicum experiences or clients with the human services role. In addition, you may not arrange for a client you have met in practicum to have a referral to work with you after practicum in a human services role. A clear and distinct boundary must exist between your practicum role and a role you may have in a human services agency.

In addition, we recommend listening to a podcast titled Social Media Use and Social Work Practice: Boundary and Ethical Considerations. It is retrievable at: www.socialwork.buffalo.edu/podcast/episode.asp?ep=110

Non-professional behavior

Failure to adhere to the Social Work Code of Ethics and/or engagement in irresponsible behavior will be documented by the Field Instructor, who will then advise the student of the nature of the breach. The Faculty Liaison will be advised of the incident(s) and a meeting will be arranged with all parties involved to discuss the breach. At this time, both parties will present their cases and the Faculty Liaison, in collaboration with the student, Field Instructor and Program Coordinator, will determine the disposition of the case.

!Documentation will be placed on your file in the Social Work Department. Serious incidents may result in failure or expulsion from the practicum and/or dismissal from the program.

Refer to Policy 513 in the University Policies.