Confidentiality In Social Work - Essay Example

Confidentiality in Social Work Confidentiality in Social Work Social work is one of the most important practices today. It involves a lot of interaction with people. During these interactions, information is shared between social workers and the people that they serve. The information in these situations is usually given in confidence. It is important to ensure that as social workers, the information is handled with discretion. This is an ethical code that goes without saying. Violations are often made in the working environments.

Some of the conflicts, especially internal are salvageable by the management. Confidentiality violations, on the other hand, are very detrimental to any practice, more specifically social work. The information that clients give during studies is very sensitive. Violations of this privacy can cost a practice. The causes of confidentiality violations are usually ignorance and carelessness. As professionals, social workers are required to have very high ethical standards. Social workers are among the few professionals who are trusted with protecting the image of their client as they help them manage crises.

Breach of a persons confidence undermines the confidence of clients in the professional’s ability to perform their duty. Once a person lacks confidence in the people that are meant to provide them with the necessary care, the practice loses all value both externally or internally Patient information is an example of information that must not be handled lightly. It is important that the difference in the way a professional addresses the patients and their colleagues is noted and practiced. The information that patients deal with and those that clinicians deal with are very different.

In most cases, the opinions of the clinicians concerning patients are irrelevant to the care that is meant to be given. Talking about the patient with colleagues, therefore, make good consultation ensure that absolute caution is taken throughout the process of administering care. Physicians should refrain from speaking loosely in the presence of patients as it may be misunderstood as a violation of their privacy. Ensuring that consultations are done in a private setting is important as it limits the potential for such errors.

Sharing confidential information with a colleague is a technical violation of a client’s privacy. It is important to ensure that the information that is shared is done so out of necessity and not leisure. In my opinion, it is important that informed decisions are made. Consulting is an important part of acquiring information. It is, therefore, important to practice professionalism. Informal consultations must be brought down to a minimum to ensure that the clients are accorded the respect that they demand.

Social work involves much interaction and therefore by default, occasional talking given. It is important to ensure that as a professional, social occasions are kept far from work. One must not discuss their work at social events. Social workers must make sure that in the event topics concerning work come up, they can evade the specific areas. Ethically, colleagues should ensure that they stop their partners when they overhear confidential information being shared. Limiting the range that information is passed is another risk management strategy.

The potential for causing damages to the patient are very high if the carelessness is practiced outside the office. It is, therefore, paramount to ensure that the management handles any cases quietly (Crawshaw, 1974). References Crawshaw, R. (1974). Gossip wears a Thousand Marks. Prisms, 2(6), 45-47.