Section 20.01 - Unethical or Unprofessional Conduct GenerallyA social worker shall not engage in unethical or unprofessional conduct. "Unethical or unprofessional conduct" includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) Violating any provision of M.G.L. c. 112, §§ 130 through 137, or any regulation of the Board promulgated thereunder;(2) Engaging in, authorizing or aiding or abetting fraud, deceit, misrepresentation of material facts, the provision of false or forged evidence, or bribery in connection with any application for the issuance or renewal of a social work license;(3) Engaging in, authorizing, or aiding or abetting fraud, deceit, misrepresentation of material facts, the provision of false or forged evidence, or bribery in the course of his or her professional practice;(4) Using, or attempting to use, a license which has been revoked or suspended, which has expired, or which belongs to another person;(5) Authorizing or permitting a person to perform functions or services which constitute the practice of social work, as defined in M.G.L. c. 112, § 130, when one knows or has reason to know that said person is not licensed by the Board and that a license is required for the performance of those functions or services;(6) Authorizing or permitting a licensed social worker to perform a particular social work function or service, when one knows or has reason to know that the performance of that function or service exceeds the legally permissible scope of practice for that level of licensure, or when one knows or has reason to know that the individual in question does not possess the knowledge or skills necessary for proper performance of that function or service;(7) Offering, giving, soliciting, receiving or agreeing to receive any fee or other consideration to or from a social worker or other health care professional for the referral of a client;(8) Engaging in any other conduct which violates federal or state law and which reasonably calls into question his or her fitness to practice social work;(9) Engaging in any conduct which violates the civil or legal rights of a client; or(10) Engaging in any course of conduct which is expressly prohibited by, or which constitutes a failure to conform to: (a) any provisions of the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers, as adopted by the 1979 NASW Delegate Assembly and amended from time to time hereafter, to the extent that said provision is not inconsistent with federal or state law; or(b) any other generally accepted standard(s) of professional conduct.