NAC641B.205. Responsibility to client.

     1. A licensee shall practice social work with professional skill and competence.

     2. If a licensee must act on behalf of a client who has been declared incompetent or otherwise found by the Board to be incapable of acting in his or her own best interest, the licensee shall safeguard the interests and rights of that client.

     3. If another person has been legally authorized to act on behalf of an incompetent client, a licensee shall deal with that person in accordance with the best interests of the client.

     4. A licensee shall not practice, condone, facilitate or collaborate with any form of discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, social, economic, health or marital status, political belief, diagnosis, mental or physical disability, or any preference or personal characteristic, condition or status.

     5. A licensee shall not misrepresent to a client the efficacy of his or her service or the results to be achieved.

     6. A licensee shall apprise his or her clients of the risks, rights, opportunities and obligations, financial or otherwise, associated with the provision of social work services to them.

     7. A licensee shall seek advice and counsel of colleagues and supervisors whenever it is in the best interest of the client. A licensee shall collaborate with other colleagues as necessary to meet the needs or interests of the client.

     8. A licensee shall terminate service to a client and a professional relationship with a client when the service and relationship are no longer required or no longer serve the needs or interests of the client.

     9. A licensee shall not withdraw his or her social work services precipitously, except under unusual circumstances and after giving careful consideration to all factors in the situation and taking care to minimize possible adverse effects to the client.

     10. A licensee who anticipates the termination or interruption of service to a client shall notify the client promptly and seek the transfer, referral or continuation of service in relation to the needs and preferences of the client.

     11. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 12, a licensee shall not influence or attempt to influence a:

     (a) Client;

     (b) Person with significant personal ties to a client, whether or not related by blood; or

     (c) Legal representative of the client,

Ê in any manner which could reasonably be anticipated to result in the licensee deriving benefits of an unprofessional nature during the time that the client is receiving professional services and for 2 years after the termination of the services.

     12. A licensee shall not engage in sexual activity with a client during the time that the client is receiving professional services and for 3 years after the termination of the professional relationship.

     13. A licensee shall not solicit or enter into a dual relationship with a client, intern or person who is supervised by the licensee:

     (a) During the time that the client is receiving professional services from, or the intern or person is being supervised by, the licensee; and

     (b) For at least 2 years after the termination of the professional relationship, internship or period of supervision.

     14. A licensee shall not cause a client physical, mental or emotional harm by taking direct or indirect actions or failing to take appropriate actions.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Exam’rs for Social Workers, eff. 9-20-88; A 5-15-92; 10-25-93; R113-98, 1-13-99; R112-00, 1-17-2001; R079-02, 1-9-2003)