A Hispanic family recently immigrated speaks only Spanish, and their child is bilingual. A social worker with limited Spanish fluency is assigned to assist. What is the best course of action?

• A. Provide assistance to the family to the extent possible given the social worker's limited Spanish fluency
• B. Obtain a qualified interpreter to assist with translation
• C. Refer the family to another agency that has Spanish-speaking social workers
• D. Ask the son to translate because he is familiar with the family's needs and is able to assist immediately

Answer: (B)

Clear communication is essential in social work to accurately assess needs, obtain informed consent, and protect clients’ rights. When the family speaks only Spanish and the worker has limited Spanish, relying on partial understanding can lead to misinterpretation and unsafe or ineffective services. A professional interpreter provides accurate translation, stays neutral, and upholds confidentiality and professional boundaries, which is critical for trusting client relationships and ethical practice.

Having a family member, especially the child, translate introduces serious issues: the child may be overwhelmed, key terms or nuances can be missed or distorted, and confidentiality and boundaries can be breached. It also places an inappropriate burden on the child and may compromise the family’s privacy and the worker’s ability to gather information safely.

Therefore, the best course is to obtain a qualified interpreter to assist with translation, ensuring clear, accurate communication and proper ethical standards are met. If an interpreter isn’t immediately available, the agency should seek alternatives that provide professional language access rather than proceeding without adequate translation.