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.
In order to do so, they are mandated to follow the NASW Code of Ethics (Social Work Profession). This is the set of social work values that help dictate our responses to real life situations, and help push people to their fullest potential, while also protecting the client and social worker. The Code of Ethics also helps ensure that the client is receiving the maximum benefit and helping to reduce/eliminate
Go to the Code Next, it is important for the social worker to consult the NASW Code of Ethics. In this circumstance, the major ethical principles at play are dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, and integrity. Janet respects
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.
By maintaining professional boundaries, social care workers can uphold the integrity of their role and protect both themselves and their service users from potential ethical issues (22). Demonstrate ethical awareness (CORU 2019). The Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics (CORU 2019) provides a comprehensive framework for social care workers to adhere to ethical standards in their practice. This code sets out clear guidelines for professional conduct, ethical behaviour, and decision making in social care work. It emphasises the importance of respecting autonomy, promoting social justice, and safeguarding the wellbeing of service users.
The National Association of Social Workers provide guidance, information, advocacy and other resources for social workers. The National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics clearly provides social work professionals with ethical guidelines to be successful in the profession. The Code of Ethics gives social workers a strong foundation to the core values, in order to make decisions about ethical issues with their clients and colleagues on an everyday basis. Understanding and implementing the principles of the Code of Ethics is essential in the social work profession. The Code of Ethics consists of a set of core values for the social work profession.
In a nutshell this means it is highly likely that I may come across somebody that I know, or somebody that a friend of family member knows. Due to this fact it can become easy or even tempting to show special treatment or discuss client information with others. Mt ethical dilemmas paper discusses how a good social worker must always put the client first and never take short cuts with clients, manipulate or deceive clients, or break confidentiality unless
Thus, I could potentially go against rather than support the value of the importance of human relationships by refusing to disclose a client’s confidential information. Conversely, a third option would be to state that multiple families at Dickinson Academy are struggling to access affordable housing and suggest that we work together to develop a centralized fund to support the basic needs of all the homeless families, but the student and his family would not receive the full donation being offered. Involve and inspect the NASW Code of Ethics, local, state, and national laws, and agency policies. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) serves as a guide for the daily professional conduct of social workers, and it is easily referenced when values conflict (i.e. service and human relationships versus integrity). The Code of Ethics clearly states in standard 1.07: Privacy and Confidentiality that unless a client is a harm to himself or others or for compelling professional reasons, the student’s right to privacy and confidentiality should be upheld and
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).
Social workers main ethical responsibility is to ensure that the patient is receiving the proper care that they are entitled and that the patient is the main
It should not matter whether or not their personal beliefs on the specific matter conflict, nor whether or not others in society agree or disagree with the value as well. After all, it is a social workers job to serve and help their vulnerable citizens, isn't it? If a social worker does not apply the professional ethics of "Service" to their clients, what are they really there for? Even aside from the other 5 professional ethics, providing the clients in need with the proper and professional services should be the practitioner's first priority. This is because all other ethics cannot be put into practice if the social worker is not providing the help and resources that the client is in need of in the first place, therefore, making it impossible for the client to reach their maximum potential.
From time to time, social work practitioners face different challenges and one of such example is being confronted with ethical dilemmas. An ethical dilemma is defined as “when the social worker sees himself or herself as facing a choice between two equally unwelcoming alternatives, which may involve a conflict of moral values, and it is not clear which choice will be the right one” (Banks, 2012). Ethical dilemmas can occur in the context of either client or organisational-related conflict situations at work. The first ethical dilemma is when the patient refuses medical treatment and services because he or she would not accept that there is any problem.
“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
