Can an agency sell books to clients as a service? Can a social worker sell books to clients (at costs-not for profit) as a service?
Rule 113(c) (6) requires that a social worker shall not engage in any type of business relationship other than the provision of social work services, including social work supervision. The social worker may purchase from the client necessary goods which the client is providing for the general public but the Social Work Practice Act does not define the provision of social work services to include the sale of items such as books. Since we, as social workers try to encourage the clients self determination and independence, it is difficult to imagine the service a waiting room full of books for sale provides. What happens when a client wants to return a book because he didnt feel the content was helpful or maybe even found it offensive? Better to return it to Barnes and Nobles customer service than to the office where he is receiving social work services.
