Documentation in Social Work: Complex Ethical and Risk Management Issues

Presenter: Dr. Frederic Reamer

Social workers face complex documentation decisions that can have profound consequences. When is it appropriate to be vague in a clinical note in order to protect clients? Should parents of minor clients have a right to access social workers’ records? Under what circumstances should clients have access to their own records? How should social workers’ informed consent protocols be documented? What Canadian laws and NLCSW guidelines are relevant to social workers’ documentation? Substandard documentation can harm clients and expose social workers to the risk of ethics complaints.

This webinar, a joint initiative between NLCSW and NL Health Services,will include a succinct overview of documentation challenges in social work. Dr. Frederic Reamer will draw on his extensive experience as an expert witness in litigation and licensing board cases and highlight key decisions social workers make regarding the purposes, content, wording, storage, and protection of documentation. He will review relevant ethical standards and risks. Case examples will be included.

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