Case Study: Bethany

The case study, this paper will dissect and analyze focuses on an individual by the name of Maria. This particular case study is not uncommon by any means, as a foster care counselor Maria must be prepared to handle any situation at any given point in time. Following an alarming call at two o’clock in the morning she was notified by the foster parents of a child named Bethany, they would have to leave town that night due to a close relative dying. Various circumstantial hurdles arise due to very simple yet over exaggerated technicalities, one of which being the most obvious is that Bethany is not a family member of Maria’s. Albeit bearing that in mind, she still chose to take Bethany home and allow her to rest overnight in her guest bedroom

Regrettably, this confines Maria in a climacteric scenario forcing her to purger herself on the official incident report stating, under those circumstances she attempted to look for a placement with no success. Consequently, Bethany remained in her custody at work for the remainder of the night. Assuming that she is not discovered as well as being reprimanded for her actions the entirety of this situation prompts numerous ethical issues to be investigated. The most primal and preponderant matter in question of this case study is the ethical dilemma pertaining to the decision Maria made having taken Bethany to her home followed by the falsification of her official report. These two seemingly harmless decisions both violated the laws and professional code of ethics given the assumption that all social workers were consciously aware of these strict guidelines defining the boundaries they were to maintain as employees. Coupled with the violations listed, corresponding ethical confrontations take hold which further increases the sensitivity of these circumstances. Accordingly, this includes Bethany’s exposure to the social workers twelve year old son, her willingness to reject many of the modern restrictions placed against conflicts of interest, and the nonchalant manner which she displays her affection for the children

Another key point in Trimberger (2012), correspondingly takes hold as the identification of professional boundaries and ethical behaviors as the fundamental principles that comprise the field of social work. Comparatively, in order to be effective in their roles, social workers must develop relationships with their clients built on mutual trust and an understanding of client strengths, challenges, and goals (Compton, Gala- way, & Cournoyer, 2005). To illustrate the importance of these boundaries, the assumption is made that regulations and restrictions which are designed for the safety of both social workers and clients are to be held to the highest caliber. It is expected that social workers practice by adhering to the code of ethics developed through their professional organizations (Fine & Teram, 2009; National Association of Social Workers,