Running head: ETHICS REVIEW 1

Ethics Review
Lorenzo Nash
Rutgers University
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The ethical concerns or dilemmas that are most frequently encountered at my internship

are lack of informed consent and not upholding confidentiality. Breaches of confidentiality are

the most common. Employees at times have overlooked the release of information in the client’s

files and have engaged in long conversations with relatives that broke confidentiality because

permission was not granted by the client. My practicum setting has two requirements in order to

be able to receive services which is to be positive with HIV/AIDS or want to be connected to

using PREP. Therefore, having conversations with individuals who the client has not signed a

release of information for, can unknowingly disclose their status and put them in harm. The other

ethical concern is lack of informed consent. Clients do sign consent forms during initial intakes

and reassessments however, clients need more explanation at times about exactly what they are

signing. Being able to spend time explaining in detail to clients what exactly informed consent

means would benefit the clients.

The social workers in my agency deal with ethical questions and resolutions to ethical

dilemmas in various ways. There are weekly staff meetings in which ethical concerns or cases

are discussed. All six offices take part in quarterly training sessions throughout the year which

covers different ethical topics in regard to state laws or within the community. These trainings

are conducted by certified professionals outside of the organization. The managers from each

office also attend specialized trainings so they can become more knowledgeable on how to lead

staff in ethical decision making.

There is not a high number of social workers employed at my practicum setting, however

the NASW Code of Ethics influenced the way staff are held accountable and in the

documentation that is provided for the client. The agency has a bill of rights, confidentiality

statement, grievance policy, informed consent policy, and release of information form for clients.
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According to Garthwait (2017), “Table 12.2 lists eight of the primary social work values and

shows how agencies can uphold these values through comprehensive and creative agency

policies for ethical professional behavior. The social work values are dignity and respect,

equality, safety and protection, autonomy and self-determination, privacy and confidentiality,

service, quality and competency, cultural competency” (p. 140 - p. 141). All these different

documents ensure the client’s rights are respected and regarded as a high priority.

The agency has its own code of ethics for its employees to follow which is included in

their mission statement. The four main components are community, service, leadership, and

accountability. The community aspect is similar to the social justice core value of the NASW

Code of Ethics in which the organization has to challenge how the HIV/AIDS community is

stigmatized and how funding is distributed towards resources for the community. Service is the

exact same as the NASW Code of Ethics in which employees are there to advocate for clients

and assist to obtain needs. The leadership aspect I would compare this to is the competence core

value in which the professional has to continue to obtain knowledge in their field. Accountability

is connected to the integrity aspect of the NASW Code of Ethics. The employee must always be

accountable for their own actions and act in a professional manner.

In my opinion, there are no policies that are in violation of the NASW Code of Ethics.

The main ethical concern of breaches of confidentiality should be better addressed. Maybe

having a form that is constantly update every three months. Even changing the location of the

release of information form in the client’s chart might be useful. The release of information form

should also be accessible when operating with data entry programs.

Hyacinth handles reports of ethics violations on the part of its staff by following a chain

of command. The staff member would meet with the supervisor, human resources, and then the
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director. All discussions are documented in written reports. If necessary, the staff member may

be given days off and follow up training will be scheduled.

Agency personnel has been dismissed because of repeated ethical violations of breaching

confidentiality. The staff member was not breaking confidentiality out of revenge but rather was

careless. This particular staff member disclosed the status of a couple of clients to their relatives

or other agencies without the permission of the client. Often the former staff member was

careless because she was trying to reconnect to the client and would not review the release of the

information. Therefore would violate the client’s confidentiality by engaging in conversations

with individuals that should not be aware of the client’s status.

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References

Garthwait, C. L. (2017). The social work practicum a guide and workbook for students. Boston,

MA: Pearson.