North Carolina Administrative Code › Title 21 - OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS › Chapter 63 - SOCIAL WORK CERTIFICATION › Section .0500 - ETHICAL GUIDELINES › Section 63 .0504 - RESPONSIBILITIES IN PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 2, July 15, 2024
(a)
				Social workers shall not misuse their professional relationships sexually,
				financially, or for any other personal advantage. They shall maintain this
				standard of conduct toward all who are professionally associated with them such
				as clients, colleagues, supervisees, employees, students, and research
				participants.
(b) Social workers
				shall inform clients of the extent and nature of services available to them as
				well as the limits, rights, opportunities, and obligations associated with
				service that might affect the client's decision to enter into or continue the
				relationship.
(c) Social workers
				shall obtain consent to participate in social work intervention from all
				clients or their legally authorized representative except when judicial orders
				require intervention to ensure the client's and community's safety and
				protection.
(d) Social workers
				shall terminate a professional relationship with a client when it is determined
				by the social worker, the client, or any entity with legal authority over
				client's care that the client is not likely to benefit from continued services
				or the services are no longer needed. The social worker who anticipates the
				termination or interruption of services shall give prior notice to the client
				as soon as possible. The social worker shall provide referrals as needed or
				upon the request of the client. A social worker shall not terminate a
				professional relationship for the purpose of beginning a personal or business
				relationship with a client.
(e)
				Social workers shall respect the integrity, protect the welfare, and maximize
				self-determination of clients they serve, in accordance with the level and type
				of care that a competent social worker would provide under the circumstances.
				They shall avoid entering treatment relationships in which their professional
				judgment will be compromised by the prior association with or knowledge of a
				client. Examples include treatment of one's family members, friends,
				associates, employees, or others whose welfare could be jeopardized by such a
				dual relationship.
(f) Social
				workers shall not initiate, and shall avoid personal relationships or dual
				roles with current clients, or with any former clients whose feelings toward
				the social worker may be derived from or influenced by the former professional
				relationship. When a social worker may not avoid a personal relationship with a
				client or former client, the social worker shall take appropriate precautions,
				such as documented discussion with the client or former client about the
				relationship, consultation, or supervision to ensure that the social worker's
				objectivity and professional judgment are not impaired. In instances when dual
				or multiple relationships are unavoidable, social workers shall set boundaries
				that take into consideration the client's age, race, sex, gender, sexual
				orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, national origin, and medical
				diagnoses.
(g) Social workers shall
				not engage in sexual activities with clients or former clients. A social worker
				shall not engage in or request electronic, verbal, or physical sexual contact
				with a client or former client under any circumstances. For the purposes of
				this Rule, "sexual contact" means behavior relating to sexual activities
				including intentional touching, either directly or through the
				clothing.
(h) Social workers shall
				act in accordance with G.S. 90B and these Rules in regard to relationships with
				clients or former clients. A client's or former client's initiation of a
				personal, sexual, or business relationship shall not be a defense by the social
				worker for failing to act in accordance with G.S. 90B and these
				Rules.
Authority
				  G.S.
				  90B-6;
				  90B-11;
Eff. March 1,
				  1994;
Amended Eff. April 1, 2001;
Pursuant to
				  G.S.
				  150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without
				  substantive public interest Eff. September 19, 2015;
Amended Eff.
				  October 1, 2021.