Everything You Need to Know

Course Description

Developing  and maintaining quality case records and implementing prudent  documentation practices is essential for the clinician in private  practice.  The NASW Code of Ethics provides social workers with a  comprehensive set of guidelines outlining professional norms, while the  NJ Social Work Statutes and Regulations and federal laws prescribe legal  directives around professional conduct for social workers practicing in New Jersey.  The primary goal of all three documents is to protect the  client by establishing the “Standard of Care” for the professional  practice of social work, but none specifically address the unique  experience of the private practitioner.   In this workshop, the  presenter will compare and contrast how these and other relevant  documents address the characteristics of a case record that complies  with current ethical and legal standards for social workers in private  practice. Attendees of this workshop receive an in-depth view of the  clinical and financial elements of the case record; progress notes;  records retention and destruction; confidentiality and privacy and the  release of the case record; and clients and others access to the case  record.

Course Objectives:

1. Identify and successfully manage challenging ethical dilemmas involving boundaries in mental health practice

2. Implement practical strategies to strengthen boundaries in clinician/client, supervisor/supervisee, and

employer/employee relationships.

3. Develop ethically-based, technology-related, policies and procedures for mental health practitioners in a variety

of practice settings.