S.C. Code Regs. § § 110-20

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 11, November 22, 2024

Section 110-20 - Principles of Professional Ethics

1. The social worker shall not exploit relationships with clients for personal or business advantages, other than the proper, reasonable and agreed upon compensation for his services to the client.

2. The social worker shall not solicit the clients of his employing agency for private practice.

3. The social worker will inform clients of any possible or apparent conflict of interest and shall terminate service to clients, and professional relationships with them, when such service and relationships are no longer required or in which a conflict of interest does arise, in such a manner which does not endanger the client's life.

4. A social worker shall not engage in any sexual act with a client or with a person who has been a client to whom services were provided within the past three years.

5. A social worker shall not exploit his professional relationships with clients (or former clients), supervisor, students, employees, or research participants, sexually or otherwise. A social worker does not engage in sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is defined as deliberate or repeated comments, gestures, or physical contacts of a sexual nature that are unwanted by the recipient.

6. The client/social worker relationship shall be presumed to continue to exist for a period of six months after the last provision of services except where circumstances such as, but not limited to, selection of a new therapist shows otherwise.

7. A social worker will give precedence to his professional responsibility over his financial interests.

8. A social worker shall not commit fraud and shall not represent that he performed services which he did not perform.

9. A social worker will not divide a fee or accept or give anything of value for receiving or making a referral.

10. A social worker should provide clients with accurate and complete information regarding the extent and nature of the services available to them.

11. A social worker shall not participate in or condone fraud or any other misrepresentation. A social worker shall not misrepresent professional qualifications, education, experience, affiliations, or services performed.

12. In connection with his work as a social worker, a social worker shall not practice, condone, facilitate or collaborate with any form of discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, marital status, political belief, mental or physical handicap, or any other preference or personal characteristic, condition or status.

13. A social worker shall not repeatedly fail to keep scheduled appointments.

14. A social worker who anticipates the termination or interruption of service to clients shall notify such clients promptly and seek the transfer, referral, or continuation of service in relation to the clients' needs and preferences.

15. A social worker shall respect the privacy of clients and hold in confidence all information obtained in the course of professional service except for compelling reasons. Compelling reasons shall include, but are not limited to:

a. Consultation with another professional on behalf of the client;

b. Duty to warn;

c. Child abuse and sexual molestation;

d. Statutory requirements.

16. The social worker shall obtain informed consent of clients before taping, recording, or permitting third party observation of their activities.

17. The social worker shall report to the appropriate authorities any incident, of which he has personal knowledge, of unethical social practice by any individual or organization.

S.C. Code Regs. § 110-20

Amended by State Register Volume 36, Issue No. 6, eff June 22, 2012; State Register Volume 48, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/24/2024.