Ethical Exceptions for Social Workers in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Physical Distancing

Ethical Exceptions for Social Workers in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Physical Distancing

by Allan Barsky, PhD, JD, MSW

                As the saying goes, “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.” In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are certainly in extraordinary times. As social workers, we are facing a myriad of challenges. Many of us are working in organizations that have temporarily closed or are replacing in-person meetings with clients to telephone and digital communication. Some of us are in working organizations that are being overwhelmed with client concerns, ranging from anxiety about the pandemic, to unemployment and financial concerns, to difficulties with access to COVID-19 testing and healthcare services for themselves and their loved ones. All of us are working in environments of uncertainty, stress, and yes, also opportunities — opportunities to promote health, well-being, social justice, empowerment, and a stronger sense of community.

     Social workers possess many important methods and skills to help clients and communities to cope and thrive in times of crisis and transition. We can provide moral and instrumental support, access to services, advocacy to address client needs, therapy to help clients deal with anxiety and trauma, community organization, and a myriad of other methods of helping. But what are our ethical obligations when we are not able to provide services in our usual ways, particularly, the ways that are authorized by our codes of ethics, agency policies, and regulatory laws? Under what circumstances, if any, is it ethical for social workers to breach particular ethical standards, agency policies, or regulatory laws? And if we do breach any of these guidelines, what can we do to minimize the risk of harm to our clients, ourselves, and our practice settings?

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