Final answer:
Social workers have an ethical responsibility to maintain privacy and confidentiality with their clients. They must obtain informed consent and explain the limits of confidentiality. Exceptions to confidentiality may be made when there is a risk of harm to the client or others.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social workers have an ethical responsibility to clients regarding privacy and confidentiality. This means that social workers must respect their clients' right to privacy and ensure that any information shared during the course of their work remains confidential. They are bound by professional codes of ethics and legal regulations that require them to maintain client confidentiality, except in specific situations such as when there is a risk of harm to the client or others.
Social workers must obtain informed consent from clients before sharing their personal information with anyone, unless required by law or necessary to protect the client's safety. They should explain the limits of confidentiality to clients at the beginning of their relationship, ensuring that clients understand under what circumstances information may be shared.
For example, if a social worker is working with a client who is a survivor of domestic violence and fears for their safety, it is crucial to maintain confidentiality to protect the client from further harm. However, if there is a risk of imminent danger to the client or others, the social worker may have a duty to break confidentiality and report the situation to the appropriate authorities.