Social Work Ethics Essay

For helpers working in rural areas and small communities, managing multiple relationships can be a difficult task. The NASW Code of Ethics states that helpers “should not engage in dual or multiple relationships with clients or former clients in which there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client.” (Corey & Corey, 2014) Often times, there are only a few helpers within a small community. This makes efforts to refrain from having multiple relationships very difficult.
Many times, helpers have children who go to school with or are friends with a client’s child. The children may play on the same sports teams, be part of the same clubs, or want to have sleepovers or play dates. The client and helper may see one another at school functions. The helper must be sensitive to the needs of the children involved while maintaining ethical professionalism with her client. This may even mean that the helper cannot allow his/her own children to spend afterschool recreational time with the child(ren) of a client; which in turn, may hurt the children’s feelings. However, the helper must ultimately maintain personal and professional boundaries.

They may speak casually, say hello or wave. The helper or client may be the coach of a youth team or leader of a youth’s club. Again, they may see each other at children’s sporting or school events. The helper and/or client may feel like their child is being given special treatment or treated unfairly as a result. The client may be a teacher of the helper’s child. The helper may have to interact in another relationship with the client in the event that there is a parent-teacher conference. If either the client or helper feels they are given special treatment or treated unfairly, the relationship between the two can easily become