Problem:
Acknowledge and respond to the following in 75 words or more: If a coworker and friend told me they had a drinking problem that was affecting their work with clients, I would first try to support them in a caring and nonjudgmental way. As a friend, I would encourage them to get help, use supervision, or reach out to an employee assistance program. At the same time, as a social worker, I would also have an ethical responsibility to protect clients and make sure no harm is being done. The NASW Code of Ethics talks about the six ethical principles, including service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence (NASW, 2021). In this situation, integrity and competence stand out the most because if their drinking is affecting client care, it could put vulnerable clients at risk. Even though I would want to protect my friendship, client well being has to come first. If they continued refusing help and their impairment was still affecting practice, I would need to follow agency policy and possibly report the concern to a supervisor. The NASW Code of Ethics states that social workers who believe a colleague's impairment interferes with practice should take action through consultation and established channels (NASW, 2021). I would document my concerns professionally and avoid gossiping or discussing it with others who are not involved. Need Assignment Help?