The social worker is bound by NASW principles and legal duties to protect the psychiatrist. The psychiatrist seems to be in danger because the mentally ill man can do anything to him.
The social worker should follow the following duties of the psychiatrist. Social workers are responsible for notifying prospective victims and taking steps to protect people the client might harm. The social worker should take the initiative to protect the psychiatrist’s life which might be in danger.
The mentally ill man has stated that he will show the psychiatrist what it feels like to lose independence. He also states that he is good at shots. This is after the psychiatrist wants the man to be restricted from driving. The man might be angry, and he feels the need to revenge. Moreover, he should notify the legal authorities of the potential danger.
The social worker has a responsibility to inform his clients about the nature and scope of his services. The social worker must inform the man that he intends to save the psychiatrist’s life. Even though this involves breaking the confidentiality rule, the social worker should report the mentally ill man to the authorities. Professional social workers must report particular outrages against humanity to designated governmental authorities.
The duty to report relates to fundamental human rights, which state that everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security. The psychiatrist has the right to life, and the social worker is responsible for protecting it. He can do this by reporting the mentally ill suspicious words to the police. The police will then offer protection to the psychiatrist and ensure that he is safe.
Apart from the duties, the social worker is guided by standards and values that he must follow while dealing with his client. Human relationships are essential since individuals work closely in the community. Social workers always intervene when relationships between different people are sour.
Moreover, they undertake roles like supporting people to develop new social relationships. The mentally ill man feels he lost independence when his driver’s license was restricted. The social worker must ask himself if the loss of the driver’s license is the only reason the man is feeling is not independent. He then should mend the relationship between the mentally ill man and the psychiatrist. Afterward, he should advise the man on the different ways to socialize and integrate with the community for him to feel loved and accepted.
Social workers’ main job is to enhance the well beings of their clients. Clients’ needs come first. Clients should be informed that social workers’ responsibilities are more significant to the community or specific legal obligations. In this case, the social worker should inform his client that he prioritizes the community’s safety over his. He is bound to take legal actions to prevent any damage from happening.