While the whole code of ethics applies to every social worker, the following paragraphs
extracted from the
Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers
specifically mention supervisors, supervision, and supervisees.
Preamble
"...Social workers promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of
clients. “Clients” is used inclusively to refer to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers are
sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and strive to end discrimination, oppression, poverty, and other forms of social
injustice. These activities may be in the form of direct practice, community organizing,
supervision, consultation administration,
advocacy, social and political action, policy development and implementation, education, and research and evaluation. Social
workers seek to enhance the capacity of people to address their own needs. Social workers also seek to promote the responsiveness of
organizations, communities, and other social institutions to individuals’ needs and social problems.
The mission of the social work profession is rooted in a set of core values. These core
values, embraced by social workers throughout the profession’s history, are the foundation of social work’s unique purpose and perspective:
•service
•social justice
•dignity and worth of the person
•importance of human relationships
•integrity
•competence.
This constellation of core values reflects what is unique to the social work profession.
Core values, and the principles that flow from them, must be balanced within the context and complexity of the human experience.
Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics
In addition to this Code, there are many other sources of information about ethical
thinking that may be useful. Social workers should consider ethical theory and principles generally, social work theory and research,
laws, regulations, agency policies, and other relevant codes of ethics, recognizing that among codes of ethics social workers should
consider the NASW Code of Ethics as their primary source. Social workers also should be aware of the impact on ethical decision
making of their clients’ and their own personal values and cultural and religious beliefs and practices. They should be aware of any
conflicts between personal and professional values and deal with them responsibly. For additional guidance social workers should
consult the relevant literature on professional ethics and ethical decision making and seek appropriate consultation when faced with
ethical dilemmas. This may involve consultation with an agencybased or social work organization’s ethics committee, a regulatory body,
knowledgeable colleagues, supervisors, or legal counsel.
1.04 Competence
(a) Social workers should provide services and represent themselves as competent only
within the boundaries of their education, training, license, certification, consultation received,
supervised experience, or
other relevant professional experience.
(b) Social workers should provide services in substantive areas or
use intervention techniques or approaches that are new to them only after engaging in appropriate study, training, consultation, and
supervision from people who are competent in those interventions or techniques.
(c) When generally recognized standards do not exist with respect to
an emerging area of practice, social workers should exercise careful judgment and take responsible steps (including appropriate
education, research, training, consultation, and supervision) to ensure the competence of their work and to protect clients from harm.
2.07 Sexual Relationships
(a) Social workers who function as
supervisors or educators should not engage in sexual
activities or contact with supervisees, students, trainees, or other colleagues over whom they exercise professional authority.
2.08 Sexual Harassment
Social workers should not sexually harass
supervisees, students, trainees, or colleagues.
Sexual harassment includes sexual advances, sexual solicitation, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
3.01 supervision and Consultation
(a) Social workers who provide
supervision or consultation should have the necessary
knowledge and skill to supervise or consult appropriately and should do so only within their areas of knowledge and competence.
(b) Social workers who provide
supervision or consultation are responsible for setting
clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries.
(c) Social workers should not engage in any dual or multiple relationships with
supervisees in which there is a risk of exploitation of or potential harm to the supervisee.
(d) Social workers who provide supervision should evaluate
supervisees’ performance in a
manner that is fair and respectful.
3.07 Administration
(c) Social workers who are administrators should take reasonable
steps to ensure that adequate agency or organizational resources are available to provide appropriate staff
supervision.
3.08 Continuing Education and Staff Development
Social work administrators and
supervisors should take reasonable steps to
provide or arrange for continuing education and staff development for all staff for whom they are responsible. Continuing education
and staff development should address current knowledge and emerging developments related to social work practice and ethics.
For the most detailed and
inclusive set of supervisor - supervisee guidelines see the ACA Code
of Ethics.
