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?

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

The school may be sued and forced to pay damages.

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

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

When a school social worker makes a report of suspected abuse to a protective agency, the key element is that the report must be made in good faith based on reasonable suspicion. If the agency determines that the report is unfounded, it does not mean that the worker acted improperly. In this context, option D is correct because social workers are protected by "good faith" immunity laws designed to encourage the reporting of suspected abuse without fear of legal repercussions. This means that as long as the social worker had a reasonable belief in the child's claims and conducted the interview properly, they cannot be disciplined or held legally liable for making the report, even if the outcome was not substantiated.

The protection offered allows social workers to carry out their responsibilities of safeguarding children’s welfare without the threat of potential lawsuits or disciplinary actions, which is essential in ensuring that cases of abuse are investigated thoroughly and that children who may be at risk receive the necessary support.