Standards & Ethics

Ethics and Professional Standards in Clinical Social Work

This section of the Society’s website is designed to help you address the more common ethical and clinical practice standards issues that arise in practice and to provide education on ethics, professionalism and practice standards and their application in problematic practice situations.

Ethics and Practice Standards

This section will provide links to clinical social work practice standards.

NYSSCSW Code of Ethics | This PDF is contains the Society's Code of Ethics and provides a history of it's development.

Standards for Clinical Documentation and Recordkeeping  This PDF sets forth the standards for clinical documentation and recordkeeping in clinical social work practice.   Created by Hillel Bodek, MSW, LCSW-R, BCD, in 2010.

Standards for Clinical Documentation from the New York State Education Department Office of Professional Services    http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/sw/swprovservices.htm

HIPAA Manual for Small Practices

HIPAA Compliance Manual for Small Mental Health Practices in New York State (3^rd Edition), by Bruce Hillowe, JD, PhD, is a valuable general source on policies and procedures.  It contains forms, including a CD version, for use in a private psychotherapy practice.  It can be ordered through his office at (800) 286-0369 or from his web site which is www.brucehillowe.com

To Make an Inquiry About an Ethical Issue or Obtain a Referral to an Attorney

If you have a question about professional ethics or standards you may contact the Ethics and Professional Standards Committee Chairperson, Martin J. Lowery, LCSW, for the name of an experienced clinical social worker or an attorney who might be of help. 

mlowery@maryknoll.org, (914) 941-7636. ext. 2289