Ethics and Supervision

The following resources help supervisors provide guidance to caseworkers who are dealing with ethical situations and promote ethical practices among their staff.

Best Practice Standards in Social Work Supervision (PDF - 209 KB)
National Association of Social Workers (2013)
Provides standards of professional supervision, including a supervisor’s responsibility to provide direction and apply social work theory in their meetings with supervisees.

An Introduction to Ethics in Child Welfare Supervision [Video]
Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (2017)
Provides practical applications of ethical decision-making during child welfare supervision.

NASW Standards for Social Work Practice in Child Welfare (PDF - 135 KB)
National Association of Social Workers (NASW) (2013)
Provides background information on the development and changes to the standards over the years and definitions of key terms. This publication includes standards for ethics and values; qualifications, knowledge, and practice requirements; professional development; record keeping and confidentiality of client information; cultural competence; supervision; social work administration; and much more.