The National Organization for Human Services (NOHS) Ethical Standards is intended to serve as a guide to the everyday professional conduct of the helper. The standards are extremely broad and subject to interpretation, by the helper. Therefore, the standards are not static; they are revised as new concerns occur during the client-helper relationship.
According to NASW Code of Ethics 1.09.c Sexual Relationships, “Social workers should not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with former clients because of the potential for harm to the client”. However, the ACA Code of Ethics A.5.c. Sexual and/or Romantic Relationships with Former Clients states “sexual and/or romantic counselor-client interactions or relationships with former clients, their romantic partners, or their family members are prohibited for a period of 5 years following the past professional contact”. This particular difference was used because it is one which I feel the NASW Code of Ethics places complete and proper attention to the welfare of the client regards such relationships. I believe the presence of having a relationship with a client, even 5 years after ending professional services, still poses a harm to the client.
Ethics and Self-Care in Social Work Practice Ethics guide professional conduct, especially in social work, where practitioners navigate complex human issues. The NASW Code of Ethics outlines six core values foundational to social work practice, including service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence (NASW, 2021; Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2023). These values reinforce ethical decision making and practice standards, equipping social workers to navigate dilemmas and uphold integrity (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2023). Aligning personal values with these standards is crucial for promoting well-being and empowerment, highlighting the importance of self-awareness in social work practices.
The organization that I have chosen that is relevant to social work, and is aligned with social work values as articulated by the NASW Code of Ethics is The Department of Children Protection and Permanency (DCPP). The DCPP is New Jersey’s child protection and welfare agency, who assist children and their families who may be struggling. The DCPP provides safety, well-being and the success of children, adolescents, families, and communities. The DCPP helps parents get engaged with services that address the issues they may be facing that allowed for the division’s involvement. The DCPP is responsible for investigating any allegations of child abuse or neglect, and if it is necessary then arranging for the child’s protection, and the family’s treatment.
Ethical Issues in Social Work Practice The social work profession and its Code of Ethics dictate that social workers must act in the best interest of the client, even when those actions challenge the practitioner’s personal, cultural and religious values. In practice; however, ethical decision-making is more complex than in theory. As helping professionals, social workers are constantly faced with ethical decision-making or ethical dilemmas. As noted by Banks (2005), an ethical dilemma occurs “when a worker is faced with a choice between two equally unwelcome alternatives that may involve a conflict of moral principles, and it is not clear what choice will be the right one” (as cited in McAuliffe & Chenoweth, 2008, p. 43).
The beginning of the article discusses the ethical dilemmas during client support. It argues about two situations in which ethics needs to be considered. Some people argue that ethics is required in every case, while others disagree. However, the article says that value based decisions are needed in a social worker’s decision other than simply considering knowledge.
In the social work profession, it is a requirement to have a thorough understanding of ethics and some of the ethical dilemmas that one can face. On my journey as a social work student one of my assignments was specific to ethical dilemmas. The ethical dilemma that I chose to write in this paper about was multiple relationships and violating counselor client boundaries. The class that I wrote this in was HMS 102 which was values of human services. The main topic of the paper focused on the negative effects of sexual relationships.
In Scenario 2, the social worker violates both ethical principles and standards of practice. As a social worker they violated several areas that social workers must values including the dignity of the client, trust and honor as a social worker, and the commitment to assist those in need (National Association of Social Workers, 2017). The social work shows a lack of respect for the client as human being, is not responsible in the work, and admittedly did not do what they could to assess the client’s needs. The social worker did not act in a sense to uphold the clients dignity either, and they admitted to laughing in the client’s presence while the client was having what could have been an episode of crisis.
Case Scenario Practicing in a school setting, there are numerous individuals in the same building looking to positively impact and change students’ lives. Interdisciplinary staff consistently work together to meet the various needs of the diverse student population. As the social worker, I am privy to the strengths and weaknesses of clients as they are presented to me by the student and his/her family and shared in interdisciplinary team meetings upon the consent to do so by the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s). Teachers are only present and involved in the interdisciplinary meetings when a student assigned to their class is being discussed.
What is the NASW? Why did the NASW create a Code of Ethics for social workers? The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) developed a code of values which is intended to serve as a model or guide to professional behavior for social workers. The NASW Code of Ethics includes a set of core values which lay the foundation, policies, and mission for the social work office which the foundation of social work is based upon Workers, N. A. (2008).
The second ethical dilemma is that social work practitioners and their clients have different personal values. Despite social workers best efforts to keep their feelings in check and to respect differences, being confronted with situations in which their
An ethical dilemma happens when two or more ethical principles conflict with one another. Ethical dilemmas are problematic situations in which it is not clear which choice will be the right one. The CP is stuck as to what to do next because there is not just one outcome that will satisfy the ethical principles as stated in the Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW) Code of Ethics (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2012). According to the SASW (2017), the core values of social work are embedded in the ethical responsibilities, which are relevant to the professional activities of social workers.
Despite social workers best efforts to keep their feelings in check and to respect differences, being confronted with situations in which their values and morals conflict with those of their clients is a common scenario. For example, one may feel uncomfortable dealing with clients because of his or her sexual orientation. This issue arises because of the practitioner’s religious affiliation which results in the practitioner being unable to accept homosexuality. Another example, a pregnant client, ask her pro-life social worker for help obtaining an abortion. As the act of abortion conflicts with the social workers’ values, they may feel torn.
“Clients interest are primary”. 1.01 of the code of ethics protects the clients from being exploited by the social worker. Nonetheless, dual relationships can occur
Our society has become overwhelmed with technology, therefore we have seen an increasing presence of technology and social media in the social work practice. Mental health services first became available on the internet as early as 1982, through the use of self help support groups (Reamer, 2013). By the late 1990’s the first mental health treatment services became evident online, as providers began providing online counseling (Reamer, 2013). In today’s world of social work, online self help services are evident in many different facets.
