Who do i ring to make a complaint about a social worker who works in my community?

Question

there is a social worker who i went and saw in my community about a personal matter. anyway i was talking to a friend of mine and she told me that the social worker that i went and saw had told her friend ( who i depise) what i had told her in confidence. Which she did bcause she told me word for word what i had told the social worker. As i live in a small community im scared that everybody is going to find out my persnal matters as a result from this social worker. i feel that it is a confidental violation.

Answer 1

If the sdocial works the way you claim, he is not a worker, he is a social nuisance.  However, befor you take any step, be sure. Discuss with the social worker what you have in mind. Please try to understand  and desice.

Answer 2

If it is an infringment on your privacy, you need to phone the human resources department or whoever runs the department or company this social worker works at.

Answer 3

You are right this is a serious breech of confidentiality and totally inethical.   I have worked in social work and ministry and I absolutely hate hearing about things like this.  They should never happen but sadly they sometimes do.  I would start by writing to the head of whatever agency employs this so called social worker.   If you are in the US and this person claims to be a professional social worker (using the initials ACSW  after their name as professional credentials) I would also  contact the National Association of Social Workers www.naswdc.org and make a formal complaint.  Someone who does that should not be allowed to keep their professional certification in my opinion and shopuld certainbly be at least censured and warned formally bu their professional certifying assn.  If you are in the US and any medical info was involved it is probably a HIPAA violation too which is a matter of federal law see http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa    You may also have grounds for a law suit.   For that of course you would talk to an attorney or look into a legal services plan.   Most lawyers would handle something like this on contingency (they get paid only if they get you money) and most social service and medical agencies would be more than happy to settle out of court. They of course hope you would too and you probably would since you don't want your business spread any further than it already is.  Unfortunately once gossip gets started it is very difficult to stop.  

A personal suggestion would be that if anyone else tells you something they heard supposedly from that source you reply with something like "some ppl will make up anything to get attention won't they."   Or "Yeah I heard she was a big gossip.  I don't know why anyone would even go talk to her."  "I wonder what she's telling people about you?"   Thereby hopefully deflecting the rumor mill a bit.

Answer 4

Call her supervisor and complain.....if that doesn't work than call the CASW if you in canada or the AASW if your in the states....this is a serious violation of the CASW code of ethics....anyway hope this helps