Obligation to Inform Clients of Confidentiality Rights and Limitations

A social worker shall inform a client of the client’s confidentiality rights and the limitations and exceptions to such rights, as set forth in 258 CMR 22.03 through 22.05, no later than the end of the first client encounter or professional consultation with that client, unless sound professional practice dictates otherwise. The social worker shall document the client’s receipt of such information, in writing, in the client’s clinical treatment record required by 258 CMR 22.02. Where the client is not informed of these confidentiality rights and the limitations and exceptions to those rights at the first client encounter or professional consultation, the social worker shall also document the reasons for the delay in the provision of such information in the client’s clinical treatment record.