Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 10 - MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH › Part 5 › Subtitle 42 - BOARD OF SOCIAL WORK EXAMINERS › Chapter 10.42.02 - Social Work Practice › Section 10.42.02.02 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. In this chapter,
				  the following terms have the meaning indicated.
B. Terms Defined.
(1) "Advocacy" means the service in which the
				  social worker acts on behalf of clients to bring about or influence change to
				  improve the quality of life and functioning and assure the basic rights of the
				  client.
(2) "Assessment" means
				  obtaining and analyzing information about a client and the client's
				  circumstance while using appropriate social work knowledge, skills, values, and
				  theory to develop a service, intervention, or treatment plan.
(3) "Board" means the State Board of Social
				  Work Examiners.
(4) "Case
				  management" means a method of providing services by which a social worker
				  assesses the needs of a client and arranges, coordinates, monitors, evaluates,
				  and advocates for services to meet the needs of the client.
(5) "Client" means individuals, groups,
				  families, communities, and organizations.
(6) Clinical Social Work.
(a) Clinical social work" means the
				  professional application of social work knowledge, skills, values, theories,
				  and methods for the treatment and prevention of psychosocial dysfunction,
				  disability, or impairment, including emotional disorders, mental disorders, and
				  substance use disorders with individuals, groups, and families.
(b) "Clinical social work" includes
				  formulating a diagnostic impression and diagnosis based on standard diagnostic
				  criteria.
(7)
				  "Counseling" means a method used by social workers to assist clients in
				  learning how to solve problems and make decisions about personal, health,
				  social, educational, vocational, financial, and other interpersonal
				  concerns.
(8) "Independent
				  practice" means the practice of licensed social work without the requirement of
				  social work supervision.
(9)
				  "Informed consent" means a client's decision to agree to a proposed course of
				  transactions between the client and the licensee after the client has received
				  reasonably full and accurate information pertaining to the risks, benefits, and
				  possible consequences of the transaction.
(10) "licensed" means that the individual
				  possesses a license to practice social work issued by the Board.
(11) "licensee" means an individual licensed
				  by the Board.
(12) Practice Social
				  Work.
(a) Practice social work" has the
				  meaning stated in Health Occupations Article, 19-101(p), Annotated Code of
				  Maryland.
(b) "Practice social
				  work" includes supervising a candidate for advanced licensure, for independent
				  practice, or a licensee in the practice of social work.
(13) Private Practice.
(a) "Private practice" means the provision of
				  psychotherapy by a licensed certified social worker-clinical (LCSW-C) who
				  assumes responsibility and accountability for the nature and quality of
				  services provided to a client in exchange for direct payment or third-party
				  reimbursement or on a pro-bono basis as stated in Health Occupations Article,
				  §
												19-101(q),
				  Annotated Code of Maryland.
(b)
				  "Privatepractice" includes the terms solo practice, solo private practice, or
				  group practice.
(14)
				  "Pro-bono" means the provision of psychotherapy or social work services for no
				  or low payment based on need.
(15)
				  "Psychotherapy" means formulating a diagnostic impression and an assessment for
				  the treatment of mental and behavioral disturbances while utilizing a
				  specialized formal interaction between the client and the social worker in
				  which a therapeutic relationship is established and maintained.
(16) "Scope of practice" means procedures,
				  actions, and processes that a licensed social worker is permitted to undertake
				  in accordance with the terms of the license held.
(17) "Social work" means the professional
				  activity of helping individuals, families, groups, couples, organizations, or
				  communities to enhance or restore their capacity for social and psychosocial
				  functioning.
(18) "Social worker"
				  means an individual who:
(a) Is licensed under
				  the Health Occupations Article, Title 19, Annotated Code of Maryland;
(b) Represents to the public by title or
				  description which incorporates the words "social worker", "social work", or a
				  similar designation; and
(c)
				  Offers, attempts, or renders services involving the application of principles,
				  methods, and procedures of the social work profession to clients.
(19) "Supervision" means a
				  formalized professional relationship between a supervisor and supervisee in
				  which the supervisor directs, monitors, and evaluates the supervisee's social
				  work practice while promoting the development of the supervisee's knowledge,
				  skills, and abilities to provide social work services in an ethical and
				  competent manner.
(20) Technology
				  Used.
(a) "Technology used" means the use of
				  interactive audio, video, or other telecommunications or electronic media by a
				  social worker to deliver social work services.
(b) "Technology used" includes, but is not
				  limited to services that are provided to a client who is not physically present
				  with the social worker.
(c)
				  "Technology used" does not include:
(i) Audio
				  phonic or telephonic communications between an LCSW-C and a client;
(ii) Electronic communications between an
				  LCSW-C and a client;
(iii)
				  Facsimile transmission between an LCSW-C and a client; or
(iv) A text message or other type of message
				  sent between an LCSW-C and a client by a short message service or multimedia
				  service.