4 Discussions - w2
danmelvanderson_i01c
Discussionsw2.docxDiscussion 1: Informed Consent
Informed consent means that a social worker or another professional will not intervene in a client’s life or release confidential information about him unless that client has freely consented
— Dolgoff, Harrington, & Loewenberg, 2012, p. 160
Social workers are bound by the NASW Code of Ethics (2008) to provide informed consent with every client. A signed informed consent form protects the client and the social worker. It exemplifies the profession’s respect for its clients, allows for self-determination, and is the cornerstone of good social work practice. Sometimes, though, reporting of confidential information is mandated by law.
Post a description of the importance of confidentiality when working with your client. How does the principle of confidentiality impact the therapeutic relationship? Then, explain your understanding of mandated reporting and how it empowers vulnerable populations.
Should be at least 150 words and contain at least 1 reference and 1 citation in APA format.
Discussion 2: Dual-Role Relationships
Consider this scenario:
You receive a hotline call at your mental health agency from a client requesting a same-day appointment. You are the only social worker available to work with clients at the time, as your coworker is out of town on vacation for 10 days. A 15-year-old boy struggling with depression (no suicidal ideation) and addiction calls asking for help. While you are gathering information over the phone, you realize that he happens to be the son of a friend. Do you continue the process, planning on providing him with services, or do you refer him to another mental health clinic that is over 30 miles away? Do you make him wait until your coworker returns? Do you contact his parents and tell them he called?
In certain geographical areas there may be limited resources and in turn a lack of opportunities for clients to obtain assistance. In some rural or otherwise isolated areas there might be situations that make it difficult to maintain ideal boundaries due to dual-role relationships. Dual-role relationships exist when a professional fills multiple roles at the same time, a situation that may be unavoidable in certain circumstances.
Understanding the significant impact of a dual-role relationship with a client is important in order to avoid harming the client. Further, recognizing the impact on the client and the relationship will assist in the creation of strong professional boundaries. In these situations, a social worker might feel his or her ability to maintain these boundaries is compromised or may even experience a value dilemma due to the existence of dual-role relationships.
Consider the importance of boundaries in a therapeutic relationship. Think about ways a social worker might violate the NASW Code of Ethics as it pertains to dual-role relationships. Is there ever a situation in which dual-role relationships are acceptable, or even preferable?
Post an explanation of how you might respond to the situation with the 15-year-old boy on the hotline. Include ways your decision may impact the client. Support your position with references, professional experience, and additional research. How will you address a possible dual-role relationship?
Should be at least 150 words and contain at least 1 reference and 1 citation in APA format.
Discussion 3: Week 2 Blog
Post a blog post that includes:
· An explanation of potential challenges in adhering to confidentiality in your field education experience
· A description of agency policies or mandates with regard to confidentiality
· An explanation of potential challenges in communicating with clients within your agency
Respond to the blog post of three colleagues in one or more of the following ways:
· Validate an idea in your colleague's post with your own experience.
· Offer and support an opinion.
· Expand on your colleague's posting.
Be sure to support your blog posts with specific references to this week's resources and provide full APA citations for your references. For more information about posting your blog assignment, click on the Field Education Blogs link on the course navigation menu.
Should be at least 150 words and contain at least 1 reference and 1 citation in APA format.
Week 2 – Confidentiality Program Transcript Developing the necessary skills to realize the distinctions between confidentiality and open lines of communication is the focus of this week. Maintaining confidentiality is important when engaging social work clients. Breaking it could potentially constrain the open lines of communication. For example, consider the limitations “duty to warn” presents. As a future social worker, how might you ensure that you are demonstrating social work practice skills while maintaining confidentiality? How you communicate also may affect your relationship with other social workers or even your field instructor. Does your agency observe additional types of confidentiality when interacting with others?
Discussion 4: Individual vs. Structural-Cultural Theories
Theories help frame more than presenting problems—they also frame social problems, and both types of problems can be linked in relation to client issues. For example, many scholars and social workers have attempted to understand the social problem of poverty. Turner and Lehning (2007) classified various psychological theories to explain poverty under two headings: (1) individual-related theories or (2) structural/cultural-related theories. In other words, think of these two headings as lenses in viewing poverty. In this Discussion, you apply lenses through which to understand a client's problem in relation to social problems.
To prepare:
· Read this article listed in the Learning Resources: Turner, K., & Lehning, A. J. (2007). Psychological theories of poverty. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 16(1/2), 57–72. doi:10.1300/J137v16n01-05 (in attachments).
· Select a theory under the individual-related theories and a theory under the structural/cultural-related theories.
· Complete the handout “Comparing Individual-Related and Structural/Cultural-Related Theories” (in attachments) to help you craft your response. (Note: You do not need to upload the handout to the Discussion forum. The handout is intended to assist you in writing your Discussion post.)
Post:
· Describe how a social worker would conceptualize a presenting problem of poverty from the two theories you selected.
· Explain how this conceptualization differs from an individual-related versus a structural/cultural-related theoretical lens.
· Compare how the two theoretical lenses differ in terms of how the social worker would approach the client and the problem and how the social worker would intervene.
Should be at least 150 words and contain at least 1 reference and 1 citation in APA format.
