16.63.16.11 SOCIAL WORKERS' ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS PROFESSIONALS:

1. A. Competence.

   (1) Social workers shall accept responsibility or employment only on the basis of existing competence or the intention to acquire the necessary competence.

   (2) Social workers shall strive to become and remain proficient in professional practice and the performance of professional functions. Social workers should critically examine and keep current with emerging knowledge relevant to social work. Social workers should routinely review the professional literature and participate in continuing education relevant to social work practice and social work ethics.

   (3) Social workers shall base practice on recognized knowledge, including empirically based knowledge, relevant to social work and social work ethics.

2. B. Nondiscrimination. A social worker shall not discriminate against a client, student or supervisee on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, color, national origin, religion, diagnosis, disability, political affiliation, or social or economic status. If the social worker is unable to offer services because of a concern about potential discrimination against a client, student or supervisee, the social worker shall make an appropriate and timely referral. When a referral is not possible the social worker shall obtain supervision or consultation to address the concerns.
3. C. Private conduct. Social workers shall not permit their private conduct to interfere with their ability to fulfill their professional responsibilities.
4. D. Dishonesty, fraud, and deception. Social workers shall not participate in, condone, or be associated with dishonesty, fraud, or deception.

5. E. Impairment.

   (1) Social workers shall not allow their own personal problems, psychosocial distress, legal problems, substance abuse, or mental health difficulties to interfere with their professional judgment and performance or to jeopardize the best interests of people for whom they have a professional responsibility.

   (2) Social workers whose personal problems, psychosocial distress, legal problems, substance abuse, or mental health difficulties interfere with their professional judgment and performance shall immediately seek consultation and take appropriate remedial action by seeking professional help, making adjustments in workload, terminating practice, or taking any other steps necessary to protect clients and others.

6. F. Misrepresentation.

   (1) Social workers shall make clear distinctions between statements made and actions engaged in as a private individual and as a representative of the social work profession, a professional social work organization, or the social worker's employing agency.

   (2) Social workers who speak on behalf of professional social work organizations should accurately represent the official and authorized positions of the organizations.

   (3) Social workers shall ensure that their representations to clients, agencies, and the public of professional qualifications, credentials, education, competence, affiliations, services provided, or results to be achieved are accurate. Social workers should claim only those relevant professional credentials they actually possess and take steps to correct any inaccuracies or misrepresentations of their credentials by others.

7. G. Solicitations.

   (1) Social workers shall not engage in uninvited solicitation of potential clients who, because of their circumstances, are vulnerable to undue influence, manipulation, or coercion.

   (2) Social workers shall not engage in solicitation of testimonial endorsements (including solicitation of consent to use a client's prior statement as a testimonial endorsement) from current clients or from other people who, because of their particular circumstances, are vulnerable to undue influence.

8. H. Acknowledging credit.

   (1) Social workers shall take responsibility and credit, including authorship credit, only for work they have actually performed and to which they have contributed.

   (2) Social workers shall honestly acknowledge the work of and the contributions made by others.

[16.63.16.11 NMAC - N, 4/24/06; A, 06/01/09]