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Ethical Standards

ETHICAL STANDARDS OF HUMAN SERVICE PROFESSIONALS

National Organization for Human Service Education

Council for Standards in Human Service Education

Preamble

Human services is a profession developing in

response to and in anticipation of the direction of

human needs and human problems in the late twentieth

century. Characterized particularly by an appreciation

of human beings in all of their diversity,

human services offer assistance to its clients within

the context of their community and environment.

Human service professionals and those who educate

them, regardless of whether they are students, faculty

or practitioners, promote and encourage the unique

values and characteristics of human services. In so

doing, human service professionals and educators

uphold the integrity and ethics of the profession, partake

in constructive criticism of the profession, promote

client and community well-being, and enhance

their own professional growth.

The ethical guidelines presented are a set of standards

of conduct which the human service professionals

and educators consider in ethical and

professional decision making. It is hoped that these

guidelines will be of assistance when human service

professionals and educators are challenged by difficult

ethical dilemmas.

Although ethical codes are not legal documents,

they may be used to assist in the adjudication of

issues related to ethical human service behavior.

Section I—Standards of Human Service Professionals

Human service professionals function in many

ways and carry out many roles. They enter into

professional-client relationships with individuals,

families, groups and communities who are all referred

to as “clients” in these standards. Among their roles

are caregiver, case manager, broker, teacher/educator,

behavior changer, consultant, outreach professional,

mobilizer, advocate, community planner, community

change organizer, evaluator and administrator

(SREB, 1967). The following standards are written

with these multifaceted roles in mind.

The Human Service Professional’s Responsibility

to Clients

STATEMENT 1 Human service professionals

negotiate with clients the purpose, goals, and nature

of the helping relationship prior to its onset as well as

inform clients of the limitations of the proposed

relationship.

STATEMENT 2 Human service professionals

respect the integrity and welfare of the client at all

times. Each client is treated with respect, acceptance,

and dignity.

STATEMENT 3 Human service professionals

protect the client’s right to privacy and confidentiality

except when such confidentiality would cause harm

to the client or others, when agency guidelines state

otherwise, or under other stated conditions (e.g.,

local, state, or federal laws). Professionals inform clients

of the limits of confidentiality prior to the onset

of the helping relationship.

STATEMENT 4 If it is suspected that danger or

harm may occur to the client or to others as a result

of a client’s behavior, the human service professional

acts in an appropriate and professional manner to

protect the safety of those individuals. This may

involve seeking consultation, supervision, and/or

breaking the confidentiality of the relationship.

STATEMENT 5 Human service professionals

protect the integrity, safety, and security of client

records. All written client information that is shared

with other professionals, except in the course of professional

supervision, must have the client’s prior

written consent.

STATEMENT 6 Human service professionals are

aware that in their relationships with clients power

and status are unequal. Therefore, they recognize

that dual or multiple relationships may increase the

risk of harm to, or exploitation of, clients, and may

impair their professional judgment. However, in

some communities and situations it may not be feasible

to avoid social or other nonprofessional contact

with clients. Human service professionals support

the trust implicit in the helping relationship by avoiding

dual relationships that may impair professional

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judgment, increase the risk of harm to clients or lead

to exploitation.

STATEMENT 7 Sexual relationships with current

clients are not considered to be in the best interest of

the client and are prohibited. Sexual relationships

with previous clients are considered dual relationships

and are addressed in Statement 6 (above).

STATEMENT 8 The client’s right to selfdetermination

is protected by human service professionals.

They recognize the client’s right to receive or

refuse services.

STATEMENT 9 Human service professionals recognize

and build on client strengths.

The Human Service Professional’s Responsibility

to the Community and Society

STATEMENT 10 Human service professionals

are aware of local, state, and federal laws. They advocate

for change in regulations and statutes when such

legislation conflicts with ethical guidelines and/or client

rights. Where laws are harmful to individuals,

groups or communities, human service professionals

consider the conflict between the values of obeying

the law and the values of serving people and may

decide to initiate social action.

STATEMENT 11 Human service professionals

keep informed about current social issues as they

affect the client and the community. They share that

information with clients, groups, and community as

part of their work.

STATEMENT 12 Human service professionals

understand the complex interaction between individuals,

their families, the communities in which they

live, and society.

STATEMENT 13 Human service professionals

act as advocates in addressing unmet client and community

needs. Human service professionals provide a

mechanism for identifying unmet client needs, calling

attention to these needs, and assisting in planning and

mobilizing to advocate for those needs at the local

community level.

STATEMENT 14 Human service professionals

represent their qualifications to the public accurately.

STATEMENT 15 Human service professionals

describe the effectiveness of programs, treatments,

and/or techniques accurately.

STATEMENT 16 Human service professionals

advocate for the rights of all members of society, particularly

those who are members of minorities and

groups at which discriminatory practices have historically

been directed.

STATEMENT 17 Human service professionals

provide services without discrimination or preference

based on age, ethnicity, culture, race, disability, gender,

religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic

status.

STATEMENT 18 Human service professionals

are knowledgeable about the cultures and communities

within which they practice. They are aware of

multiculturalism in society and its impact on the community

as well as individuals within the community.

They respect individuals and groups, their cultures

and beliefs.

STATEMENT 19 Human service professionals

are aware of their own cultural backgrounds, beliefs,

and values, recognizing the potential for impact on

their relationships with others.

STATEMENT 20 Human service professionals

are aware of sociopolitical issues that differentially

affect clients from diverse backgrounds.

STATEMENT 21 Human service professionals

seek the training, experience, education, and supervision

necessary to ensure their effectiveness in working

with culturally diverse client populations.

The Human Service Professional’s Responsibility

to Colleagues

STATEMENT 22 Human service professionals

avoid duplicating another professional’s helping relationship

with a client. They consult with other professionals

who are assisting the client in a different type

of relationship when it is in the best interest of the

client to do so.

STATEMENT 23 When a human service professional

has a conflict with a colleague, he or she first

seeks out the colleague in an attempt to manage the

problem. If necessary, the professional then seeks the

assistance of supervisors, consultants, or other professionals

in efforts to manage the problem.

STATEMENT 24 Human service professionals

respond appropriately to unethical behavior of colleagues.

Usually this means initially talking directly with

the colleague and, if no resolution is forthcoming,

reporting the colleague’s behavior to supervisory or

administrative staff and/or to the professional organization(

s) to which the colleague belongs.

STATEMENT 25 All consultations between

human service professionals are kept confidential

continued

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