Risk Management in Social Work : Preventing Professional Malpractice, Liability, and Disciplinary Action / Frederic G. Reamer ; legal review by Michael J. Racette, Esq.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Reamer, Frederic G., 1953- author.

Standardized Title:

Social work malpractice and liability

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Social workers--Malpractice--United States.

Social workers.

Social workers--Legal status, laws, etc--United States.

Social workers--Legal status, laws, etc.

Social workers--Malpractice.

Social workers--Legal status, laws, etc--U.S. states.

United States.

Physical Description:

xiv, 367 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Columbia University Press, [2015]

Summary:

This New Text is Based on Frederic G. Reamer's key reference for practitioners, Social Work Malpractice and Liability: Strategies for Prevention. Rooted in his own experience as an expert witness in court and licensing board cases, the volume introduces the concepts of negligence, malpractice, and liability before turning to the subject of risk management. Reflecting on recent legal cases and research, Reamer identifies a variety of problems in the social work field relating to privacy and confidentiality, improper treatment and delivery of services, impaired practitioners, supervision, consultations and referrals, fraud and deception, and termination of service. He also explores the unprecedented ethical challenges created by new digital technologies-such as online counseling, video counseling, and practitioners' use of social networks and social media-and describes current issues relating to HIPAA compliance and access to electronic health records (EHR) and health information exchanges (HIE). He concludes with practical suggestions for social workers named as defendants in lawsuits and respondents in licensing board complaints. Book jacket.

Contents:

Professional risk management : an overview

Professional malpractice and liability

Key concepts in risk management

The elements of malpractice and liability

Process versus outcome and the standard of care

Damages in liability cases

Confidentiality and privileged communication

The concept of privacy

Common confidentiality issues

The concept of privileged communication

Responding to subpoenas and court orders

Unintentional disclosure of confidential information

The delivery of services

Clients' rights

Informed consent

Clinical assessment and intervention

Negligent intervention

Boundary issues and dual relationships

Managing boundary risks

Undue influence

Suicide

Involuntary civil commitment

Protective services

Defamation of character

Digital technology and social media

Impaired social workers

The nature of impairment

Extent of impairment

Causes of impairment

Sexual abuse of clients

Practitioner substance abuse

Response to impairment

Risk management strategy

The challenge for social work

Supervision: clients and staff

Client supervision

Staff supervision

Supervision case law

Supervision of volunteers

Liability and social work education

Preventing supervisory liability

Consultation, referral, documentation, and records

Consultation in social work

Referral in social work

Social work documentation and records

Evolution of social work standards

Risk management standards and guidelines

Deception and fraud

Self-interested deception and fraud

Deception and fraud motivated by altruism

Termination of service

The concept of abandonment

Premature termination

Prevention strategy

Responding to lawsuits and ethics complaints: the role of prevention

In the event of a lawsuit or licensing board complaint

The role of the expert witness

Preventing lawsuits and licensing board complaints: good practice

Preventing lawsuits and licensing board complaints: good ethics

Ethical dilemmas and decision making

Conducting an ethics audit.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780231167826

0231167822

9780231167833

0231167830

OCLC:

881387668