Table of contents

01. Social Work Code of Ethics

02. Code of Ethics of the Philippine

Association of Social Worker Inc.

03. Ethical Principle of Social Worker

 Social Work Code of Ethics
All professions and disciplines adhere to a code of
ethics which guides the professionals to ensure that
there is a quality of service provided and guidelines of
behavior.
Code of Ethics of the
Philippine Association
of Social Worker Inc.

SOCIAL WORKERS'
CODE OF ETHICS
We, the members of the Philippine Association of Social
Workers, Inc. believing:

1. In the inherent dignity and

worth of all persons, emanating
from a Supreme being who
directs our actions of love for
one another;
2. That every human being
has natural and social
rights, capacities and
responsibilities to develop
his full potentials as a
human being;
 3. In human being's
capacity to change and
recognize the value of
unity in diversity,
individual differences
and pluralism in society;
 4. In free men and women
living in a free society where
poverty, in all its forms, is
neither a fate nor a
punishment, but is condition
that can and must be changed;
 5. In the family as the
basic unit of society and its
vital role in the growth and
development of the
individual, the family
system, and community;
6. That the government, the
private sector and the public
have a joint responsibility to
promote social justice and
to ensure political,
economic and social well-
being of all people;
 7. In the role of social
workers as agents and
advocates of change and
in the promotion of
professionalism,
responsibility and
accountability; and,
8. That our professional
practice is deeply rooted
in our cultural values,
DO HEREBY DECLARE that
will abide by these standards of
ethical conduct:
Relative to Self and the
Profession:
 1. To conduct myself in a manner consistent with the
philosophy, principles, values, and beliefs of the social
work profession;

2. To act at all times with honesty,

openness and transparency in all my
professional transactions;
 3. To constantly work towards my own professional
advancement so as to contribute to the promotion of the
social work practice;

4. To contribute time and professional

expertise to activities that promote
respect for the integrity and
competence of social workers;
 5. To share research knowledge and practice
wisdom to colleagues and other professionals;

6. To be vigilant and act to

prevent the unauthorized
and unqualified practice of
social work;
 7. To support the professional association duty
organized and constitute for the professional
welfare of all social workers;
8. To respond and volunteer
my professional services in
times of emergency;
9. To uphold and protect the dignity and integrity of
the profession; and

10. To promote cultural values that

will enhance the practice of social
work profession.
 Relative to Clients:
1. To uphold the basic human rights
of clients and serve them without
discrimination;
2. To accept primary responsibility and
accountability to client, respecting
their right to self-determination and
observe confidentiality in all my
dealings with them;
 3. To seek out the marginalized and
ensure equal access to the resources,
services and opportunities required to
meet basic need; and,
 4. To expand choice and
opportunity for all persons, with
special regard for disadvantaged
or oppressed groups or persons.
ETHICAL PRINCIPLE OF
SOCIAL WORKER
VALUE: SERVICE

Social worker's primary goal

is to help people in need and
to address social problem.
VALUE: SOCIAL JUSTICE
Social worker's pursue social
change , particularly with and
on behalf of vulnerable and
oppressed individual's and
groups of people.
VALUE: DIGNITY AND WORTH OF THE PERSON

Social worker's respect

the inherent dignity
and worth of the
person.
VALUE: IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN
RELATIONSHIPS
Social worker's understand
that relartionship between
and among people are an
important vehicle for change.
VALUE: INTEGRITY
Social workers
behave in a
trustworthy manner.
VALUE: COMPETENCE
Social workers practice
within their areas of
competence and develop
and enhance their
professional expertise.
 THE RELATIONSHIP OF CLIENT AND
SOCIAL WORKERS IS REGULATED BY
THIS PROVISION OF THE CODE OF ETHIC
 1. SOCIAL
WORKERS'
ETHNICAL
REPONSIBILITIES
TO CLIENTS
 • Social workers' primary
1.01
responsibility is to promote
COMMITMENT the well-being of clients.
TO CLIENTS • Social workers are required
by law to report if a client
has abused a child or has
threatened to harm
themselves or others.
 • Social workers respect and
1.02
promote the right of clients to
SELF-
self-determination and assist
DETERMINATION clients in their efforts to identify
and clarify their goals.
• Social workers can limit a
client's self-determination if a
client's actions or potential
actions pose a serious risk to
themselves or others.
1.03 (a) Social workers
INFORMED should provide services
CONSENT to clients only in the
context of a professional
relationship based, when
appropriate, on valid
informed consent.
1.03 (b) In instances when clients
INFORMED are not literate or have
difficulty understanding the
CONSENT primary language used in the
practice setting, social
workers should take steps to
ensure clients'
comprehension.
1.03 (c) In instances when clients
lack the capacity to provide
INFORMED informed consent, social
CONSENT workers should protect clients'
interests by seeking permission
from an appropriate third party,
informing clients consistent
with the clients' level of
understanding.
1.03 (d) In instances when clients
are receiving services
INFORMED involuntarily, social workers
CONSENT should provide information
about the nature and extent of
services and about the extent of
clients' right to refuse service.
 (f) Social workers should
1.03
obtain clients' informed
INFORMED
consent before audiotaping or
CONSENT
videotaping clients or
permitting observation of
services to clients by a third
party.
 (a) Social workers should provide
1.04 services and represent themselves
COMPETENCE as competent only within the
boundaries of their education,
training, license, certification,
consultation received, supervised
experience or other relevant
professional experience.
 (b) Social workers should
1.04 provide services in substantive
COMPETENCE areas or use intervention
techniques or approaches that are
new to them only after engaging
in appropriate study, training,
consultation and supervision
from people who are competent
in those interventions or
techniques.
 (c) When generally
1.04
recognized standards do not
COMPETENCE exist with respect to an
emerging area of practice,
social workers should exercise
careful judgment and take
responsible steps (including
appropriate education,
research,
 training, consultation and
1.04
supervision) to ensure the
COMPETENCE competence of their work and
to protect clients from harm.
 1.05 Cultural Competence and Social
Diversity
(a) Social workers should
understand culture and its function
in human behavior and society,
recognizing the strengths that
exist in all cultures
 1.05 Cultural Competence and Social Diversity

(b) Social workers should have a knowledge

base of their clients' cultures and be able to
demonstrate competence in the provision of
services that are sensitive to clients'
cultures and to differences among
people and cultural groups.
 1.05 Cultural Competence and Social
Diversity
(c) Social workers should obtain education about
and seek to understand the nature of social
diversity and oppression with respect to race,
ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual
orientation, age, marital status, political belief,
region and mental or physical disability.
 1.06 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

(a) Social workers should be alert to and avoid conflicts

of interest that interfere with the exercise of professional
discretion and impartial judgement.
 1.06 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

(b) Social workers should not take unfair advantage of

any professional relationship or exploit others to further
their personal, religious, political or business interests.
 1.06 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

(c) Social workers should not engage in dual or multiple

relationships with clients or former clients in which there
is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client.
 1.06 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
(d) When social workers provide services to two or more
people who have a relationship with each other (for example,
couple, family members), social workers should clarify with
all parties which individuals
ill be considered clients and the nature
of social workers' professional obligations
to the various individuals who are
receiving services.
 1.07 PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

(a) Social workers should respect clients' right to privacy.

(b) Social workers may disclose confidential information

when appropriate with valid consent from a client or a
person legally authorized to consent on behalf of a client.
 1.07 PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

(c) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of all

information obtained in the course of professional service,
except for compelling professional reasons.
(d) Social workers should inform clients, to the extent
possible, about the disclosure of confidential information
and the potential
consequences, when feasible before the
disclosure is made.
 1.07 PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

(e) Social workers should discuss with clients and other

interested parties the nature of confidentiality and
limitations of clients' right to confidentiality.
(f) When social workers provide counseling services to
families, couples, or groups, social workers should seek
agreement among the parties involved concerning each
individual's right to
confidentiality and obligation to preserve
 1.07 PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

the confidentiality of information shared by others.

(g) Social workers should inform clients involve 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.
 1.07 PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
(h) Social workers should not disclose confidential
information too third-party payers unless clients have
authorized such disclosure.

(i) Social workers should not discuss confidential

information in any setting unless privacy can be ensured.
Social workers should not discuss
confidential information in public or
semi-public areas such as hallways, waiting
 1.07 PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

rooms, elevators and restaurants.

(j) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of
clients during legal proceedings to the extent permitted
by law.

(k) Social workers should protect the

confidentially of clients when responding
to requests from members of the media.
 1.07 PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

(l) Social workers should protect the confidentially of clients

written and electronic records and other sensitive information.

(m) Social workers should take precautions to ensure and

maintain the confidentiality of information
transmitted to other parties the use of
computers, electronic mail, facsimile
 1.07 PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
machine, telephones and telephone answering machines
and other electronic or computer technology.

(n) Social workers should transfer or dispose clients'

records in a manner that protects clients' confidentiality
and is consistent with state
statues governing records and social work
licensure.
 1.07 PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

(o) Social workers should take responsible precautions to

protect client confidentiality in the event of the social
worker's termination of practice, incapacitation, or death.

(p) Social workers should not disclose identifying

information when discussing clients for
teaching or training purposes unless the
client has consented to disclosure of
confidential information.
 1.07 PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

(q) Social worker should not disclose identifying information

when discussing clients with consultants unless the client has
consented to disclosure of confidential information or there is
a compelling need for such disclosure.

(r) Social workers should protect the

confidentiality of decreased clients consistent
with the preceding standards.
 1.08 Access to Records
(a) Social workers should provide clients with reasonable
access to records concerning the clients.

(b) When providing clients with access to their records,

social workers should take steps to
protect the confidentiality of other
individuals identified or discussed in such
records.
 1.09 SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP
(a) Social worker should under no engage in sexual
activities or sexual contact with current clients, whether
such contact is consensual or forced.

(b) Social workers should not engage in sexual activities or

sexual contact with clients'
relatives or other individuals with
whom clients maintain a close personal
relationship when there is risk of
 1.09 SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP
exploitation or potential harm to the client.
(c) Social workers should not engage in sexual activities
or sexual contact with former clients because of the
potential for harm to the client.

(d) Social workers should not provide

clinical services to individuals with
whom they have ha a prior sexual
relationship.
 1.10 Physical Contact

Social workers should not engage in physical contact with

clients when there is a possibility of psychological harm to
the client as a result of the contact
(such as cradling or caressing
clients.)
 1.11 Sexual Harassment

Social workers should not sexually harass clients.

 1.12 Derogatory Language
Social workers should not use derogatory language
in their written of verbal communications to or
about clients.
1.14 CLIENT WHO LACK DECISION-MAKING
CAPACITY

When social workers act on behalf of clients who lack the

capacity to make informed decisions, social workers
should take reasonable steps to
safeguard the interests and rights of those
clients.