With growth in the use of communication technology in various aspects of social work practice, social workers need to be aware of the unique challenges that may arise in relation to the maintenance of confidentiality, informed consent, professional boundaries, professional competence, record keeping, and other ethical considerations.
This guideline overlaps with NASW Code of Ethics Section 1.07 (a) Respect for privacy;- Social workers must be vigilant about informing clients about the risks and benefits of technology such as telehealth platforms (c) Limits of Confidentiality- follow the HIPAA requirements; and (g) Dual relationships- social workers should maintain clear and appropriate professional boundaries and avoid dual relationships. An example of this would be to be careful about having certain social media accounts being public and not "friending" or accepting friend requests from a client. Further more, it imperative for a social worker to a) receive continuous tech training and stay up to date in this rapidly advancing environment, especially in the area of AI. It is also important to stay apprised of your organization's social media policies and any guideline updates by NASW. Can you think of any other sections of the Code of Ethics affected? Any other suggestions on how to uphold these values and standards?