Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
Social work code of ethics
Importance of social work ethics
Importance of social work ethics
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Social work code of ethics
Importance of social work ethics
Importance of social work ethics
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
The obligation of a social worker is to be aware of individual differences as well as cultural and ethnic diversity while treating each client in a kind and courteous manner (Kirst-Ashman, & Hull, 2012, p. 412). In relation to the ethical principle of Clients who Lack Decision Making Capacity (1.14) the obligation of a social worker is to protect the rights of individuals who have been deemed “legally incompetent”. Everything done by the social worker should be in the best interest of that client (Kirst-Ashman, & Hull, 2012, p. 402). The core value of Social Justice is important do address because it ties in to many parts of the book. Social change efforts from the social worker are necessary in order to promote knowledge and cultural competency about the injustices and discrimination of individuals incarcerated in Crownsville hospital as well as the injustices and discrimination of Henrietta and the rest of her family (Kirst-Ashman, & Hull, 2012, p.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics is a guide for social workers, defining the fundamental mission of enhancing human well-being, addressing basic needs, and empowering vulnerable populations (Reamer, 2013). As I begin my journey as a social worker, this ethical code carries a profound meaning that shapes my professional individualism and influences my actions in both the workplace as well as my personal life. This essay will analyze my interpretation of the NASW's Code of Ethics, how I will utilize it in my practice as a social worker, and possible obstacles ahead. The NASW's Code of Ethics underscores the core mission of social work: promoting human well-being and addressing basic needs, especially for those vulnerable and oppressed (Reamer, 2013).
The National Association of Social Work created a code of ethics that guides social workers on what core values that they should uphold during work (NASW, 2008). When discussing social welfare policy’s, the NASW code of ethics can be applied to immigration due to social justice being one the core values. Social justice consists of fighting for rights for individuals who lack the access to resources. The immigrants that are discussed in the articles, have a lack of social justice due to the deportation. This is where social workers need to step in adjust the privileges and distributions within society.
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.
Section 1 of the NASW (1999) Code of Ethics outlines social workers’ responsibility to clients. The principle of “commitment to clients” explains that the client’s best interest is primary. Social workers have an obligation to promote the client’s well-being. The exception to this is a legal mandate to do otherwise, or in some instances when the well-being of another individual or greater society takes a higher importance. In those exceptional cases, the client needs to be aware of the limitations of the social workers’ commitment to him or her (Rothman, 2005).
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.
For example, social workers who work in policy change can lobby for laws that benefit those who are under the poverty line. A skill that is needed by social workers working with communities is to understand the culture of that community. It is imperative for a social worker not to intrude on a community, but instead embrace their culture and help to further the goals that they have as a
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 social worker demonstrated cultural competence by understanding that her clients have different cultural background. There is a need of trust between the social worker and client. These will aid her to understand that people has different beliefs and upbringings. She recognized that self-awareness is important by working out her beliefs, values, and personal biases. Through the process of listening, she showed empathy and understanding without constantly evaluating or judging.
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).
How you, as a social worker, might interpret the needs of Paula Cortez, the client, through the two cultural lenses you selected. How you, as a social specialist, may decipher the requirements of Paula Cortez, the customer, through the two social focal points you chose. Cultural competence in social work is the primary guideline of social work education and practice. According to Carpenter (2016) As the population in the United States continues to diversify rapidly, the requirement for culturally competent social work administrations is similarly as essential as it ever has been.
Values and Ethnics The NASW code of ethics core social work values is heavily active until this day. The code of ethnic its self is a set of guidelines for the ethnically practice of social work. The core value found in the code of ethics is Social justice, service integrity, importance of human relationship, dignity and worth, and competence. This code of ethics reflexes the relationship of the worker to the client and the worker. These codes of ethnic are placed to improve and establish rules and boundaries from social workers to clients and the importance of the ethnical value its place for the helping of the social worker.
Introduction Social worker is a value driven profession. The professional practice is guided by value, code of ethics and seven principals. In the past three year’s professional training, we equipped with different perspectives in understanding society, family and individuals. From Foucault, we learned a post-modern perspective which critiques the existing modern society with its unique understanding on power, knowledge and discourse.
Critiqued for implying that a client’s culture can be understood by the social worker who reads about cultures and asks questions, but the reality is more complex. Not all customers are themselves familiar with their cultural heritage. (Bartoli, 2013) For some, developing Cultural Competence may be a moral and/or ethical consideration, whilst for others, it may be driven by a sense of commitment to political and stated norms of the
According to the NASW (2018), social workers primarily focus on social justice rooted in “issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms…” Social justice is then accomplished by seeking to “promote sensitivity to and knowledge about oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity,” in addition to seeking out the necessary information for services and resources. Furthermore, social justice, according to the NASW pertains to equality in economic, political and social rights and opportunities. A tension point within a social justice framework is the simple fact of ensuring that not only groups, but also individual people are supported in receiving justice.