Sometimes ethical social work doesn’t just mean protecting clients—it means protecting the profession itself. Section 2.08 of the NASW Code of Ethics addresses what social workers should do if a colleague appears to be impaired in a way that affects their ability to practice safely and effectively.

Here’s the full standard:

2.08 Impairment of Colleagues
(a) Social workers who have direct knowledge of a social work colleague’s impairment that is due to personal problems, psychosocial distress, substance abuse, or mental health difficulties and that interferes with practice effectiveness should consult with that colleague when feasible and assist the colleague in taking remedial action.
(b) Social workers who believe that a social work colleague’s impairment interferes with practice effectiveness and that the colleague has not taken adequate steps to address the impairment should take action through appropriate channels established by employers, agencies, NASW, licensing and regulatory bodies, and other professional organizations.

What It Means in Practice

  • The first step is always support: when feasible, approach your colleague directly and offer help.

  • If they refuse or don’t take adequate steps, you have an ethical responsibility to escalate your concerns through professional or regulatory channels.

  • Silence may enable harm to clients.

Practice Question

You might encounter this on the ASWB exam like this:

A social worker begins to notice that a colleague has been missing appointments, arriving visibly disoriented, and struggling to complete documentation. The social worker suspects that substance use may be involved. What is the most ethical first step?

A. File a report with the state licensing board 

B. Ask other colleagues whether they’ve noticed the same behavior

C. Discuss the observations with a supervisor

D. Consult with the colleague directly 

When impairment affects client care, social workers are ethically required to intervene—first by supporting colleagues directly, and then through formal channels if needed. To narrow down: A skips the important first step of supporting the colleague directly—required unless there's immediate danger; B risks gossip or confidentiality violations and avoids responsibility; C skips a step--talking to the colleague first is recommended. The best answer is D.

Want more realistic practice questions like this? Prepare confidently with SWTP’s full-length ASWB exam practice tests—real scenarios, clear rationales, and focused learning.

Take Me There Now.




June 18, 2025
Categories :
  ethics  
  practice  
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