Informed consent is one of the most foundational—and nuanced—ethical responsibilities in social work. It’s about more than obtaining permission. It’s about ensuring understanding, voluntariness, and respect at every step of the client relationship. The NASW Code of Ethics dedicates an unusually detailed section (1.03) to it, signaling just how critical it is.
Here’s the full official standard:
1.03 Informed Consent
(a) Social workers should provide services to clients only in the context of a professional relationship based, when appropriate, on valid informed consent. Social workers should use clear and understandable language to inform clients of the purpose of the services, risks related to the services, limits to services because of the requirements of a third-party payer, relevant costs, reasonable alternatives, clients’ right to refuse or withdraw consent, and the time frame covered by the consent. Social workers should provide clients with an opportunity to ask questions.
(b) In instances when clients are not literate or have difficulty understanding the primary language used in the practice setting, social workers should take steps to ensure clients’ comprehension.
(c) In instances when clients lack the capacity to provide informed consent, social workers should protect clients’ interests by seeking permission from an appropriate third party.
(d) In instances when clients are receiving services involuntarily, social workers should provide information about the nature and extent of services and about the extent of clients’ right to refuse service.
(e) Social workers should discuss with clients the social workers’ policies concerning the use of technology in the provision of professional services.
(f) Social workers who use technology to provide social work services should obtain informed consent … during the initial screening or interview and prior to initiating services.
(g) Social workers … should assess the clients’ suitability and capacity for electronic and remote services.
(h) Social workers should obtain clients’ informed consent before making audio or video recordings of clients or permitting observation of service provision by a third party.
(i) Social workers should obtain client consent before conducting an electronic search on the client…
Informed consent is about protecting client autonomy and dignity. It ensures clients:
Know what they are agreeing to
Understand the risks and limits of services
Are aware of their rights, including the right to say no
Are treated as partners in the helping process
It’s also an ethical safeguard for you as the practitioner. When informed consent is clear and well-documented, it helps establish trust, reduce liability, and prevent misunderstandings.
The basics every client should know before services begin:
Purpose of services (e.g., therapy, case management, assessment)
Risks, such as emotional discomfort or data breach (especially with tech-based services)
Limits, like how insurance policies may restrict session length or scope
Costs, including out-of-pocket fees
Alternatives, such as other providers or treatment models
Right to withdraw at any time without penalty
Time frame for which consent applies
Opportunity to ask questions, and to receive answers in understandable language
These subsections recognize that not all client situations are straightforward:
If a client can’t read the form or doesn’t speak the dominant language:
Provide verbal explanations
Use visual aids or plain language versions
Bring in a qualified interpreter or translator (not a family member)
When clients can’t legally or cognitively consent (e.g., due to age, dementia, developmental disability):
Seek permission from a guardian or legally authorized representative
Still explain to the client as best you can
Ensure the third party acts in the client’s best interest
Think: court-ordered therapy, CPS referrals. Even here:
Explain what’s happening
Clarify what the client can and cannot refuse
Maintain transparency about their rights
Tell clients how technology will be used (platforms, privacy risks, security)
Get consent before services begin, even during telehealth intake
Assess if clients are emotionally and cognitively able to use tech services
Help them find alternatives if tech-based service isn’t a good fit
Whether you're recording for supervision, training, or documentation, always:
Get explicit informed consent
Clarify who will see the material and how it will be stored
Don't Google your client unless:
You have their consent
There’s a serious, imminent risk to someone’s safety
You have a strong, ethical reason—and you document it carefully
Informed consent is a “layered” concept on the exam. A scenario may test not just whether you got consent, but:
Was it valid?
Was the client truly informed?
Was the consent culturally and cognitively appropriate?
Was technology, observation, or involuntary status properly addressed?
A 16-year-old client is receiving services through a juvenile justice diversion program. The client does not want their parent present during intake and appears anxious. What should the social worker do first?
A. Require the parent to be present, since the client is a minor
B. Begin services without discussing parental involvement
C. Assess the client’s capacity and explain the limits of confidentiality and consent
D. Pause services until the client is willing to involve their parent
Have your answer?
When working with minors in involuntary settings, the social worker must explain limits to confidentiality, assess the minor’s understanding, and proceed in a developmentally appropriate way. Even if a third party gives legal consent, ethical consent includes helping the client understand what’s happening. The correct answer is C.
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