LMSW Practice Test

After interviewing a ten-year-old girl, a school social worker believes that the child has been sexually abused by her father. What should the worker do when the report to the local protective agency is determined to be unfounded?

1. The worker is likely to be sued and will have to pay damages to the family.

2. The school may be sued and forced to pay damages.

3. The worker should continue to insist on a more thorough evaluation.

4. The worker cannot be disciplined since she's immune from damages if the report was made in good faith.

The correct answer is: The worker is likely to be sued and will have to pay damages to the family.

The correct answer emphasizes the protective nature of reporting suspected abuse. When a report is determined to be unfounded, it does not necessarily imply that the social worker acted inappropriately or with malice. Reports of suspected abuse are often made in good faith, and the intention behind these reports is essential. In many jurisdictions, there are legal protections for individuals who report suspected child abuse, as the intention is to shield vulnerable children from harm. Choosing to prioritize the safety of the child by making a report is a duty of a social worker, and even if the outcome is unfounded, the act of reporting cannot usually lead to legal consequences such as lawsuits against the worker or the agency if the report was made in good faith. The implications for the other options lie in how they frame the consequences of making a report. Legal immunity helps protect social workers from wrongful punitive actions when they act to report suspected abuse based on their professional judgment and ethical obligations.