Guidence Documents

This page contains guidance documents for social workers.

VSCSW Response to Social Work Summit-Clinical Course of Study

This Response reviews the minutes of the Virginia Board of Social Work, the VBSW Regulatory Committee, and the VBSW Credentialing Committee over the years 2007 to 2011.   Sections of the minutes are pulled out to highlight the involvement of Social Work Stakeholders (including MSW programs in Virginia, The Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and the Association of Social Work Boards) to develop the definition of "Clinical Course of Study." 

VSCSW Information Technology Policies

      Technology is developing a such a fast pace that ethical standards have not been developed yet to address the issues that arise when the Clinical Social Worker uses technology as part of their clinical practice.  These Technology Policies are an attempt to give Clinical Social Workers guidance on establishing policies in their practice that address boundaries and other ethical issues unique to technology.

HIPAA-Definitinical Cons of Terms

     HIPAA can be confusing to deal with in your practice. This is a listing from the HIPAA regulations of definitions of HIPAA terms. You can add the definitions list to your practice policy manual.

Sexual Exploitation in Health Care- Virginia Department of Health Professions

     Unfortunately one of the most frequent complaints brought to the licensing boards is sexual misconduct by mental health practitioners.  The Department of Health Professions developed a brochure to assist clients to make a complaint about this type of unethical conduct.  The brochure makes it clear that "legitimate health care never involves sexual activity."

VSCSW Response to Social Work Summit-March 24, 2012

This is the executive summary of the March 24, 2012 "VSCSW Response to the Social Work Summit."  It highlights the process the Virginia Board of Social Work conducted from 2007 to 2011 to involve Social Work Stakeholders (including MSW programs in Virginia, The Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and the Association of Social Work Boards) to develop the definitions of "Clinical Course of Study" and "Clinical Social Work Services."

Adding a New Service to Your Practice: Applying An Ethical Decision Making Protocol

Clinical Social Workers attend workshops, read new books and professional journals to improve their knowledge base and learn about new ways to help clients.  The CSWA code of ethics requires that Clinical Social Workers not practice outside their area of competency.  So how do you know if you have gone through a process to assure you are adding a new skill or service to your practice in an ethical manner?  This guidance document gives a case example of applying Frederick Reamer's Ethical Decision Making Model in adding a new service to your practice.

Controversy in Virginia about LCSW licensure (May 11, 2012)

Virginia is in the midst of a Controversy over who gets to define what courses from the MSW program will qualify for meeting the Virginia Board of Social Work's definition of "clinical Course of Study?"  Also which practice settings and experiences will meet the definition of "Clinical Social Work Services?"  This guidance document gives a brief history and some data to help shed light on the problem.