Exam Preview for 1775: Dual Relationships, Conflicts of Interest, a

Dual Relationships, Conflicts of Interest, and Professional Boundaries in Social Work Practice

Please note: exam questions are subject to change.

1. “Fidelity” refers to a professionals duty to: report imminent, foreseeable risks to appropriate authorities promote social justice develop greater professional knowledge and skills act in a client’s best interest (do good, avoid harm)
2. One of the primary reasons that social workers should maintain appropriate boundaries with clients is to: allow clients and social workers to focus on their respective roles disempower clients and maintain the ultimate authority of the social worker avoid talking about important topics ensure clients are informed about the nature of services
3. One of the primary reasons that social workers should “avoid engaging in dual relationships” with clients is to: ensure access to services serve each client’s best interests and avoid causing harm to them make more money promote cultural humility, mindfulness, and self-care
4. When practicing in small communities, avoiding dual relationships is challenging because social workers: cannot be trusted to be ethical know most of the people that may need services and may have prior relationships with them lack professional competence are legally required to live outside the community where they practice (according to state licensing laws)
5. When social workers share personal information on public websites and social networks, they may risk boundary confusion with clients because: clients may gain access to the personal information it is illegal for professional social workers to post personal information online social workers should assume that clients lack the mental capacity to make good choices for themselves social workers should not practice social work in states where they are not licensed
6. Inez is a social worker who feels romantically attracted to a client. Which of the following options should Inez choose? retire from social work immediately because it is clear that she is not competent to practice self-report to the NASW professional review process self-report to the state licensing board consider, perhaps with a consultant, whether she can deal with her feelings and maintain appropriate boundaries with her client
7. Riley provides couples counseling. One of her couples decides to divorce. One of the partners asks Riley to provide him with individual counseling. To avoid a dual relationship, Riley should: inform both members of the couple that couples counseling has terminated and then start individual counseling with the partner who wants it offer to provide individual counseling to both members of the couple refer the partner asking for individual counseling to other counselors provide individual counseling, but on a pro bono (free) basis
8. Farah is a school social worker who also maintains a part-time private practice. In the school setting, many students that she serves know each other. To reduce risks related to dual relationships and maintaining appropriate boundaries, Farah should: let students know that their personal information cannot be kept confidential let students know that she cannot share personal information about one student with another encourage students to barter for services by helping out around the school to help pay for their counseling refer some of the students to see her in her private practice, away from the school setting
9. Which of the following questions should a social worker use during intake to help identify possible dual relationships? Who are the people in your family or primary support system? Do you have private health insurance? What is the primary reason that you are seeking services today? When did your concerns begin?
10. Which of the following factors increases a social worker’s risk of violating professional boundaries with clients? having a good clinical supervisor or clinical consultant high intelligence ability to empathize without overidentifying or sympathizing with clients lack of self-awareness