Ethics

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="05300640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Arial" ><B> NORTH CAROLINA SOCIETY</B></FONT><B> </B><B>    |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" NORTH CAROLINA SOCIETY"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ads"><U>Ads</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Announcements"><U>Announcements</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Awards"><U>Awards</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Board of Directors"><U>Board of Directors</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Clinical Social Worker"><U>Clinical Social Worker</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Committee on Psychoanalysis"><U>Committee on Psychoanalysis</U></A>   |   <A 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valign="top" width=100 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Committee on Professional </I><I>Ethics</I><I> and Inquiry</I></div> <div>      Ethical concerns have a place in many professions, but none so important as those in the helping fields.  Because of the inherent power differential, one person (couple, family or group) seeking help therefore being in a more vulnerable position, and another person offering that help, it is of great importance that we are familiar with and employ ethical practice at all times.  This benefits not only our clients but our profession, our society and ourselves.</div> <bR> <div>      The Committee on Professional Ethics and Inquiry, informally known as the Ethics Committee, was one of the early committees to be established after the NCSCSW was formed.  Our original mandate was to develop a Code of Ethics  as well as Adjudication Procedures and Standards of Practice,  all of which have  been important in demonstrating the Clinical Society's accountability and professionalism.  Our ongoing mandate is to receive complaints of possible ethical misconduct, review them to determine the appropriateness for the Committee to handle, and to employ our adjudication procedures if necessary.</div> <bR> <div>      There are other ways in which we strive to be responsive to membership needs.  When the National Federation revised the Code of Ethics and included an item on the necessity for clinical social workers to have a plan for handling client records in the event of their own death or disability, ensuring both privacy and  the continuity of care,  the  Ethics Committee responded by developing a Suggested Model for the Sudden Termination of a Clinical Practice to assist our membership.</div> <bR> <div>      In an ongoing way, members of the Ethics Committee are available for informal consultation when a Clinical Society member is struggling with an ethical dilemma involving a client, a colleague, or his/her own issues.  We have many resources including literature and colleagues in and out of state with whom we consult.  Confidentiality is always maintained.  The feedback we've received over the years is that this service is extremely helpful and reassuring to our membership.</div> <bR> <div>      Should you wish to learn more about our committee, or if you become a student member of the Clinical Society, please feel free to contact any Ethics Committee member and introduce yourself.  We wish you a successful year in your social work training and education!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> --Janet Urman, MSW, LCSW</div> <div> Chair, Committee on Professional Ethics and Inquiry</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>