Professional Ethics, Values, and Legal Responsibilities
Core concepts
Social work ethics rest on service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. In school settings, the NASW Code of Ethics intersects with district policy, state school social work statutes, FERPA, IDEA, and mandatory reporting laws. Know the difference between an ethical dilemma (two defensible values collide) and an ethical violation (a clear breach of a standard). Understand informed consent, competence boundaries, dual relationships, and the limits of confidentiality with minors.
Traps
Questions often present a conflict between a supervisor's instruction and an ethical duty; the correct answer usually follows the Code and the law, not the chain of command. Another trap is assuming parental rights override a student's safety when abuse or self-harm is disclosed. Watch for answers that say "do nothing because of confidentiality" when a duty to warn or report exists. Also distinguish confidentiality (ethical) from privileged communication (legal) and from FERPA-protected education records.
Worked example
A 15-year-old discloses that a relative is physically harming them and asks you to keep it secret. Rule of thumb: safety trumps secrecy. Explain the limits of confidentiality honestly, make the mandated report, and continue supportive engagement. A distractor that honors the student's request violates mandatory reporting law.
Rule of thumb
When ethics and law both point the same way, that is almost always the answer; when they diverge, follow the stricter legal duty and document your reasoning and consultation.