Section 24.14.01.200 - PRACTICE STANDARDS01.Baccalaureate Social Work. The application of social work theory, knowledge, methods, and ethics to restore or enhance social or psychosocial functioning of individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Baccalaureate social work is a generalist practice that includes assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, case management, information and referral, supportive counseling, supervision, and consultation with clients. Baccalaureate social work also includes advocacy, education, community organization, and the development, implementation and administration of policies, programs, and activities. Bachelor level social workers are prohibited from performing psychotherapy.02.Master's Social Work. The application of social work theory, knowledge, methods and ethics, and the professional use of self to restore or enhance social, psychosocial or biopsychosocial functioning of individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Master's social work requires the application of specialized knowledge and advanced practice skills in the areas of assessment, treatment planning, implementation and evaluation, case management, information and referral, supportive counseling, supervision and consultation with clients, advocacy, teaching, research, community organization, and the development, implementation, and administration of policies, programs, and activities. Master level social workers who do not hold clinical licensure may provide psychotherapy only under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist.03.Clinical Social Work. The practice of clinical social work is a specialty within the practice of master's social work and requires the application of specialized clinical knowledge and advanced clinical skills in the areas of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, conditions and addictions. Clinical social work is based on knowledge and theory of psychosocial development, behavior, psychopathology, motivation, interpersonal relationships, environmental stress, social systems, and cultural diversity, with particular attention to person-in-environment. It shares with all social work practice the goal of enhancement and maintenance of psychosocial functioning, including psychotherapy, of individuals, couples, families, and small groups.04.Code of Professional Conduct.a. A social worker must operate within their education, training, and experience and meet the applicable standard of care provided by other qualified social workers in the same or similar community and under the same or similar circumstances. A standard of care violation may exist where a social worker engages in professional conduct that a reasonable social worker would not under the same or similar circumstances and in the same or similar community, or where the social worker knew or should have known the professional conduct would cause unreasonable harm to the client.b. When a social worker leaves an agency or practice, clients must be provided prompt notice and the opportunity to remain with the agency or practice, or to continue care with the social worker.c. A social worker will not divide a fee or accept or give anything of value for receiving or making a referral.d. A social worker will provide clients with accurate and complete information regarding the extent and nature of the services available to them.e. While a social worker may terminate, transfer, or refer a client when the services are no longer needed or in the client's best interests, prompt notification should be provided to the client. The social worker must attempt to make appropriate referrals as indicated by the client's need or request for services.f. A social worker may not exploit, sexually or otherwise, their professional relationships with clients, supervisees, former clients, supervisors, students, employees, or research participants.g. A social worker may not engage in romantic or sexual acts with a client during and for ten (10) years following termination of a social worker's services. A social worker must not provide social work services to a person with whom they have had a romantic or sexual relationship.h. A social worker may not engage in romantic or sexual acts with a relative of a client, or a person known to the social worker to have a close personal relationship with the client when it has the potential to be harmful to the client, during and for three (3) years following termination of a social worker's services.i. In providing services, a social worker may not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, mental status, physical disability, social or economic status, political belief, or any other preference or personal characteristic, condition or status.j. A social worker must obtain the client's or legal guardian's informed written consent when a client is to be involved in a research project. A social worker must explain the research, including any implications.k. A social worker must obtain informed consent of clients before taping, recording, or permitting third party observation.l. A social worker must safeguard information given by clients in providing client services.m. A social worker, regardless of personal or professional relationship, must report a licensee's violation of the Board's law or rules.n. A social worker may not disseminate or cause the dissemination of any fraudulent or deceptive advertisement.o. A social worker may not engage in dual or multiple relationships with clients or with relatives of a client, or with individuals with whom clients have close personal relationships known to the social worker, in which a reasonable and prudent social worker would conclude after appropriate assessment that there is a risk of harm or exploitation to the client or of impairing a social worker's objectivity or professional judgment. A dual or multiple relationship is a relationship that occurs when a social worker interacts with a client in more than one capacity, whether it be before, during, or after the professional, social, or business relationship. Dual or multiple relationships can occur simultaneously or consecutively. After an appropriate assessment determines that the relationship does not create a risk of harm or exploitation to the client and will not impair a social worker's objectivity or professional judgment, the social worker must document in case records, prior to the interaction, when feasible, the rationale for such a relationship, and the potential benefits.p. A social worker may not purchase goods or services from a client or otherwise engage in a business relationship with a client except when 1) the client is providing necessary goods or services to the general public; 2) a reasonable and prudent social worker would determine that it is not practical or reasonable to obtain the goods or services from another provider; and 3) a reasonable and prudent social worker would conclude after appropriate and documented assessment that engaging in the business relationship will not be detrimental to the client or the professional relationship.05.Competency.a. A social worker must only represent themself and practice in a competent manner within the boundaries of their education, training, licensure level, supervision, and other relevant professional experience.b. A social worker must only practice within new areas or use new intervention techniques or approaches after engaging in appropriate study, training, consultation, or supervision.c. A social worker must exercise careful judgment when generally recognized standards do not exist with respect to an emerging area of practice and take responsible steps to ensure the competence of his practice.Idaho Admin. Code r. 24.14.01.200