According to the NASW Code of Ethics, social workers are prohibited from engaging in sexual contact with their clients, whether they are consensual or non-consensual. There are no circumstances, in which this would be considered acceptable. In addition, this rule also includes a client’s family or any close person. This type of assault includes sexual advances, harassment, requests for intercourse, flirting, and other forms of sexual behavior. The reason for this rule is that sometimes clients’ mental health can be unstable, which disrupts the sense of reason. In the situation, where a client asks the worker to engage in a romantic or sexual relationship, a clear violation would be the case where a worker consents to it.
The other part of the Code elaborates that a social worker should not initiate or consent to physical contact since there is a chance that it could harm a client’s mental health. Social workers who initiate inappropriate physical contact with a client are responsible for establishing clear, correct and boundaries between him or her and those who need help. For instance, in the case where a social worker tries to comfort a client by caressing or kissing him or her, the code would be violated. In other words, a client should be comforted with supportive words or legal help. The role of those who physically reassure a client should be played by his or her family or close friends.