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The NASW Code of Ethics defines the values, principles, and ethical standards that guide decision-making and everyday professional conduct of social workers.
Read the NASW Code of Ethics, which outlines the core values forming the foundation of social work’s unique purpose and perspective.
The Code is relevant to all social workers and social work students, regardless of their professional functions, the settings in which they work, or the populations they serve. The NASW Code of Ethics serves six purposes: The Code identifies core values on which social work’s mission is based.
The NASW Code of Ethics continues to be the most accepted standard for social work ethical practice worldwide. It offers a set of values, principles and standards to guide decision-making and everyday professional conduct of social workers.
The NASW Code of Ethics serves six purposes: The Code identifies core values on which social work’s mission is based. The Code summarizes broad ethical principles that reflect the profession’s core values and establishes a set of specific ethical standards that should be used to guide social work practice.
Social workers should inform clients when a real or potential conflict of interest arises and take reasonable steps to resolve the issue in a manner that makes the clients’ interests primary and protects clients’ interests to the greatest extent possible.
Ethical Principle: Social workers challenge social injustice. Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people.