The New Regulatory Standards for Technology and Social Work Practice

Dwight Hymans, LCSW, ACSWExecutive VP

Creation of the Task Force

•ASWB Board of Directors meeting, Nov. 2012▫Initial motion to move forward & create the

task force

•Task Force appointments approved by BOD, April 2013

•Four virtual meetings held 2013-2014

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Charge from ASWB Board• To create the model technology standards for social

work

• To explore the role of social media in both the professional practice and personal lives of social workers throughout the world creating model social media standards

• To explore all possible professional regulatory implications on the use of technology and social media in social work practice and education creating model practice standards to be incorporated into the ASWB Model Social Work Practice Act

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Task Force participants

Association of Social Work Boards •Frederic Reamer, Ph.D., Professor, School of

Social Work, Rhode Island College , chair•M. Jenise Comer, MSW, LCSW, ACSW,

Secretary, ASWB Board of Directors; Board liaison •Steven Pharris, MSW, J.D., LMSW-TN, LCSW-AR,

Tennessee Board of Social Workers •Mary Jo Monahan, MSW, LCSW, Chief

Executive Officer •Dwight Hymans, MSW, LCSW, Executive Vice

President

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Task Force participants

Canadian Association of Social Workers •Annette Johns, Associate Director of Policy and

Practice for the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Social Workers (NLASW)

Canadian Council of Social Work Regulators•Rachel Birnbaum, Ph.D., RSW, LL.M., Past

President (2012-2014)

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Task Force participantsCouncil on Social Work Education •Paul Freddolino, Ph.D., Professor, Michigan

State University• Jo Ann Regan, Ph.D., MSW, Director, Office of

Social Work Accreditation

National Association of Social Workers •Dawn Hobdy, MSW, Director, Office of Ethics

and Professional Review•Mirean Coleman , MSW, LICSW, CT, Senior

Practice Associate, Division of Social Work Practice

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Task Force participantsIreland•Gloria Kirwan, Assistant Professor of Social Work,

Trinity College, Dublin

New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board •Sean McKinley, Chief Executive/Registrar, Social

Workers Registration Board

Wales•Rhian Huws Williams, Chief Executive, Care

Council of Wales

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Some phenomena of technology • Phone counseling •Video Counseling /Skype - free to practitioners but

there is sponsorship and advertising •Online Therapy•Cyber therapy – see each other but use avatars

instead • Facebook – social networking as a therapeutic tool •Web based technology – online assessments •Email Counseling – offered as a package of a number

of sessions • Text therapy & messaging – building text messaging

into their therapy ie: including text messaging reminders Etc.

•Self-guided protocols – Offering web based self-help with a distant link to practitioners

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Conceptual questions considered

•What we mean by relationship – Has electronic services changed how we view relationship?

•Who we serve – Who has access to internet and electronic services?

•How we serve – What’s appropriate & what is not?

•Boundary issues – Elastic boundaries between client and social worker

• Informed consent – What does this mean in an electronic environment?

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Some definitions

Digital and other electronic technology refers to the use of ▫computers (including the Internet, social

media, online chat, text, and email) ▫and other electronic means (such as

smartphones, landline telephones, and video technology)

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Electronic social work services

Use of digital and other electronic means to;

• (a) provide information to the public,

• (b) deliver services to clients,

• (c) communicate with clients,

• (d) manage confidential information and case records,

• (e) store and access information about clients,

• (f) arrange payment for professional services

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Intent of the standards

Audience▫Social Work Regulatory Community

ASWB members

▫Governmental Regulatory Bodies responsible for ensuring the safe, competent, and ethical practice of social workers using digital and other electronic technology

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Safe, competent, ethical practice• intended to serve as guidance as

regulators think through amending rules and regulations related to the growing and evolving practice of providing electronic social work services.

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What they are not;•Enforceable legal standards▫Up to each jurisdiction to determine

laws/regs and implement

•“Best practice” standards –

▫2005 Technology Practice Standards will be updated using these standards as a guide

NASW Task Force already in place

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Seven sections

•Section I. Practitioner Competence and Compliance with Ethical Standards

•Section II. Informed Consent •Section III. Privacy and

Confidentiality•Section IV. Boundaries, Dual

Relationships, and Conflicts of Interest

•Section V. Records and Documentation

•Section VI. Collegial Relationships •Section VII. Electronic Practice Across

Jurisdictional Boundaries

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Section I. Practitioner Competence and Compliance with Ethical Standards

•Knowledge about electronic social work service

•Cultural differences among clients and in clients’ use of digital and other electronic technology

•Unique communication challenges associated with electronic social work services

•Assess whether clients’ needs can be met using electronic social work services

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Section II. Informed Consent

•Capacity to provide informed consent

•Policies about the nature of available (electronic) services ▫benefits and risks,

▫alternative ways of receiving assistance,

▫fees,

▫involvement of and sharing information with third parties,

▫limits of confidentiality

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Section II. Informed Consent •Questions and answers about electronic

social work services

•Verify the identity and location of clients

•policies on the use of Internet-based search engines to gather information

•Client’s suitability and capacity for online and remote services

•Need for initial in-person, videoconference, or telephone consultation

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Section III. Privacy and Confidentiality

• risks associated with disclosure of confidential information on the Internet

•proper safeguards, including secure firewalls, encryption software, and password protection

•statutes and regulations regarding the secure use of digital and other electronic technology

•Consent when using electronic search engines

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Section III. Privacy and Confidentiality

•disclosure or posting of digital or other electronic communications ▫Risks of noncompliance by others

•confidentiality of all information obtained by, or stored using, digital and other electronic technology

•Limits of security and protection of confidential information with third party services

•develop and disclose policies and procedures for notifying when breach occurs

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Section IV. Boundaries, Dual Relationships, and Conflicts of Interest

•policies concerning digital and other electronic communication between scheduled appointments, during emergencies

•access to social workers’ personal social networking sites

•SW’s personal information on professional websites, blogs, or other forms of social media

•avoid conflicts of interest and inappropriate dual relationships based on their personal interests and online presence

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Section IV. Boundaries, Dual Relationships, and Conflicts of Interest

•providing supervision or consultation remotely ▫unique issues telecommunication

technologies pose ▫adhere to the regulatory requirements of

the jurisdiction where the supervised practitioner is regulated

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Section V. Records and Documentation

•digital and electronic communications included in client records

•mechanisms used to secure and back up records

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Section VI. Collegial Relationships

•cyberbullying, harassment, or derogatory or defamatory comments

•private, confidential, or sensitive information about the work or personal life of any colleague

• If a colleague who provides electronic social work services is ▫behaving unethically, ▫not using safeguards such as firewalls or

encryption, ▫allowing unauthorized access to digitally or

electronically stored information

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Section VII. Electronic Practice Across Jurisdictional Boundaries

•Comply with the laws and regulations that govern electronic social work services within the jurisdictions in which the social worker is located and in which the client is located.

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Is it any different than face to face?

The standards of care that have historically protected social work clients in the context of in-person relationships apply to electronic social work services. Social workers who choose to use digital and other electronic technology in their professional capacity have an obligation to do so in a way that: ▫honors their commitment to client well-being and

to social work’s commitment to assist people in need, including those who have limited access to digital and other electronic technology

▫adheres to prevailing ethical standards in social work

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Available at;

www.aswb.org – members section

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•Questions…..comments

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