Code of Practice offers 'vague' guidelines

Under the Social Workers Registration Ordi nance, all social workers are required to register with the Social Workers Registration Board.

They will have to follow the Code of Practice for Registered Social Workers, which spells out the ethics for social workers, such as social jus tice and compliance with the law.

Florence Cheung Man-wai said the code failed to provide practical guidance in respect to the professional conduct of social workers.

Her judicial review cited two sections in the code relating to how social workers should ap proach their relationship with their colleagues and their agencies.

The section titled 'Related to colleagues' states that a 'social worker should be ready to de fend other social workers against unjust accusations'.

The section headed 'Related to agency' states that 'a social worker should act constructively and responsibly to influence and to improve poli cies, procedures and practices of the employing agency in order to obtain the best possible stan dards of service'.