Social workers have various responsibilities regarding collection and handling of documents within the system. The first ethical consideration is ensuring confidentiality even when help is being offered. This means that the information collected should be kept securely. It should only be accessible to the people responsible for service delivery. According to the NASW Code of Ethics (2008), documentation should also be availed to the public for any interventions that require the participation of the public. This will create awareness that will lead to accountability which is a necessary ethical responsibility ( Workers, 2008 ). The records compiled from such exercises must also be comprehensive enough to reflect the status of the intervention. Clear and relevant information will ensure a smooth transition in case different case workers need to take over.
Elimination of errors is also critical because this documentation may be used for decision making. According to the NASW Code of Ethics (2008), the social workers must grant the clients access to some portions of the records on request. This encourages transparency and provides a platform for consultation. Documentation should be processed within the shortest time possible ( Workers, 2008 ). This prevents bias and the distortion of facts which often happens over time. Delays may also subvert the course of justice because the client in question may need immediate intervention (Willis & Molina, 2018). Social workers should be ready to acknowledge errors in record keeping. This will assist in speedy resolution when the situation is presented correctly.
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The knowledge of legal provisions regarding documentation is one of the responsibilities of the social worker. This will reduce the possibility of releasing privileged information to the wrong person. It will also eliminate the risk of legal action against the worker. This is especially important in determining the conditions under which documents are destroyed. Documentation polices also need to be reviewed regularly to ensure that organizational culture does not over ride policy (Skyttner, 1996). All policy changes must be approved by the administrators and or the supervisors.
The entry of inaccurate data into the records of social services can be detrimental. The information may present inaccurate statistics when the government is budgeting for services. The resultant funding may then be misappropriated if it is too much, or the projects may be underfunded. The social services may also correct plenty of information that is irrelevant for decision making (Skyttner, 1996). This could be because the parameters laid out are not clear to the social worker. The worker may then emphasize more on certain facts while overlooking the important aspects.
The use of complex big data systems may also lead to inaccurate information. This could lead to negative publicity when the inaccurate findings are presented to the public. Inaccurate information may also expose the social worker to legal action or malpractice cases. This is because timely and accurate information will demonstrate the carrying out of procedure even when other platforms show contrary results. For example, documents showing the cancellation or failure of one parent from facilitating child visitation can be used in a custody case (Reamer, 2005). This may be used to demonstrate negligence or violation of a court order. Compliance of a social worker in such a situation can be recorded. Workers may also show instances where their advice is disregarded.
Lastly, inaccurate information may be used as a political tool to discredit some aspects of governance. This may be as personal vendetta or as part of a political campaign. Such a process may erode the gains made by social services. People will develop apathy towards these workers, and it will take a long time for trust to be rebuilt. The confidential information collected after this will also be limited. Inaccurate information will make the entire system crippled by inaccurate funding and irrelevant projections of the future.
References
Reamer, F. G. (2005). Documentation in social work: Evolving ethical and risk-management standards. Social Work, 50(4), 325-334.
Workers, N. A. (2008). NASW Code of Ethics (Guide to the Everyday Professional Conduct of Social Workers). Washington, DC: NASW.
Skyttner, L. (1996). General systems theory: An introduction. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Willis, N. G., & Molina, V. (2018). Self-Care and the Social Worker: Taking Our Place in the Code. Social work.
