Indiana Wesleyan University Professional Boundaries Case Study Getting Started In this activity, you will read about a social worker named Linda who works

Indiana Wesleyan University Professional Boundaries Case Study Getting Started

In this activity, you will read about a social worker named Linda who works with adolescents in the child welfare system. She strives to use a strengths-based perspective in her practice. Linda makes questionable decisions that impact her professional boundaries to provide opportunities to some of her adolescent clients. Linda has a chance to discuss this situation with her supervisor. You will read a brief case scenario and then discuss your thoughts and concerns with your classmates.

Resources
Textbook: The Social Work Practicum: A Guide and Workbook for Students
File: Professional Boundaries.pdf
Website: National Association of Social Workers

Background Information

The development and enforcement of professional boundaries are important elements of social work ethics and being a professional social worker in the field. In this case scenario, the social worker will likely get some feedback from her supervisor about a questionable strategy. As a future social worker, you are likely to encounter situations in which you could bend or stretch your professional boundaries in order to develop rapport or provide opportunities to clients, and it is important to remember the purpose and boundaries around your identity as a professional social worker.

Instructions
In your textbook The Social Work Practicum: A Guide and Workbook for Students, read Chapter 11, “Professional Social Work.”
Review the case study in the Professional Boundaries.pdf document.
Review the ethical values and standards as set forth in the NASW Code of ethics at https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
Navigate to the threaded discussion and respond to the following questions:
Identify at least 2 and provide references to the NASW Code of Ethics in your post.
What questions or concerns do you expect Linda’s supervisor to raise at their meeting? What ethical and professional issues are relevant?
What would you do if you were Linda’s coworker and heard about her strategy before your mutual supervisor was aware of it? Justify your response on ethical grounds.
It seems like Linda has good intentions and is trying to use strengths-based and empowerment theoretical perspectives when working with clients. What alternative ways could Linda build rapport and provide opportunities to her adolescent clients? As a coworker or supervisor, what would you recommend to Linda? What would you do if you worked with adolescents?
Based on the tables of practice roles described in Chapter 11 of your textbook, identify one role from each category (micro, mezzo and macro) that you see to be important for social workers at your agency and give an example of a specific professional skill or boundary you see as needed to be effective in your setting.