Social Work Malpractice and Liability: Strategies for Prevention

📘 Book Details

• Author: Frederic G. Reamer

• Publisher: Columbia University Press

• Language: English

• Edition: Second Edition

• ISBN: 9780231127219

• Pages: 344

• Binding: Paperback

• Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.0 x 0.6 inches

📝 About the Book

Social Work Malpractice and Liability (Second Edition) is widely recognized as the essential text on malpractice, liability, and risk management in social work practice. Written by Frederic G. Reamer, this book serves as a vital resource for social work professionals, from classroom use to serving as a reference for agency administrators, social work supervisors, clinicians, and private practitioners.

The second edition includes up-to-date material on the revised NASW Code of Ethics, recent court decisions, and practical applications of managing ethical dilemmas in social work practice. With an emphasis on understanding the complexities of negligence, malpractice, and liability, this text empowers social workers to navigate the legal and ethical issues that may arise in their practice.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Overview: Introduces and explores the concepts of negligence, malpractice, and liability in social work.

• Risk Management: A deep dive into strategies for risk management, ensuring social workers understand how to minimize potential legal challenges.

• Real-Life Case Studies: Uses recent court decisions and real-life cases to provide context for how social work malpractice can occur and how it can be prevented.

• Practical Suggestions: Offers practical advice for social workers, including how to conduct an "ethics audit" in the workplace and navigate boundary issues and dual relationships.

• Updated Content: Incorporates new material regarding the latest revisions in ethical standards and updated legal principles.

📚 What's Inside:

• Risk Management Strategies: Learn how social workers can effectively mitigate the risks associated with privacy, confidentiality, improper treatment, fraud, impaired practitioners, and service termination.

• Ethics Audit: Guidance on how social workers can conduct an ethics audit to evaluate and ensure ethical standards in their workplace.

• Lawsuit Defense Tips: Provides concrete steps for social workers who find themselves named as defendants in legal disputes, ensuring that they are prepared and knowledgeable about the legal processes they may face.

This book is a must-have for social work professionals who need to stay informed about the ethical, legal, and practical issues that affect the profession. It provides readers with the tools and insights to practice safely, ethically, and legally in the complex field of social work.