Use of Collaterals in Social Work: Ethical and Risk Management Issues

Social workers in a wide range of settings collaborate with clients’ collaterals to plan and implement services. A collateral in social work is a spouse, partner, family member, friend, or other individual who participates in counseling and casework services to meet clients’ needs. Social workers who meet with collaterals can encounter complex ethical issues, especially related to confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and documentation. The purpose of this article is to identify ethical issues that arise in social work with collaterals; provide an overview of pertinent ethical standards; and discuss practical steps social workers can take to protect collaterals, clients, third-parties, and social workers themselves when complex ethics challenges emerge.