Challenges to Ethics and Values

2021 ◽  
pp. 153-163
Author(s):  
Mimi Mumm ◽  
Amanda Monaghan ◽  
Jennifer Oesterling

This chapter addresses common ethical dilemmas and “sticky” practice situations related to the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, which plays a crucial role in how school social workers perform their job duties. The Code of Ethics is grounded in six core social work values: dignity and worth of the person, social justice, service, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. Ethical challenges arise when values or principles clash and one value will need to take precedence over another. This chapter highlight five challenges that school social workers are likely to face: competence, confidentiality, boundaries, collegial relationships, and school reform efforts.

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 1834-1853 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orly Shapira-Lishchinsky ◽  
Miri Ben-Amram

Abstract This study reveals the ethical dilemmas encountered by social workers who mentor workers with intellectual and developmental disabilities that work in the free labour market through supported employment frameworks. The aim of the study is to examine the social workers' ethical dilemmas, while extracting rules of conduct and ethical codes that are unique to supported employment frameworks, through team simulation training. The study included forty-eight social workers who attended nine sessions in the course of one year. The findings, which were analysed using a qualitative methodology, revealed that the dilemmas, rules of ethical conduct and the derived ethical codes ranged from flexible solutions to setting firm boundaries. It emerged that the ethical dilemmas were associated with interactions that take place on all layers of the socio-ecological model. The contribution of the study is in developing an ecological approach to coping with the multidimensional dilemmas that arise in the context of supported employment. The findings will help develop a systemic approach amongst social workers towards coping with the ethical challenges involved in this type of employment.


Author(s):  
Scott Giacomucci

AbstractCore Morenean philosophy is covered in this chapter as it relates to social work philosophy. The existential and spiritual philosophies from which sociometry and psychodrama emerged are comprehensively depicted including his theory of human nature, the encounter, the Godhead, the autonomous healing center within, spontaneity–creativity theory, the here-and-now, action theory, role theory, and psychodrama’s developmental theory. Attention is given to the biopsychosocial -spiritual nature of both social work and psychodrama’s conceptualizations. The intersection of Morenean philosophy is presented with each of the six core social work values—the centrality of human relationships, the dignity and worth of each person, social justice , service, competence, and integrity.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
Anita Gibbs

In New Zealand, social work students often undertake social work research training as part of their first qualification in social work. The focus of this article is to consider what social work students think social work research is and whether they think social work research should be part of normal, everyday practice or not. Forty-three social work students from Otago University participated in a small research project during 2009 aimed at exploring their constructions of social work research. They emphasised that social work research should be compatible with social work values like empowerment and social justice, and bring about positive change of benefit of service users. 


10.18060/124 ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine P. Congress

Recognizing ethical issues and dilemmas that arise in professional practice is crucial for social work practitioners, educators, and students. After a discussion about the limited, although growing, literature on social work ethics, the ten main tenets form the most current NASW Code of Ethics are presented. These topics include limits to confidentiality, confidentiality and technology, confidentiality in family and group work, managed care, cultural competence, dual relationships, sexual relationships, impairment and incompetence of colleagues, application to administrators and relevance to social work educators. In addition to understanding the Code of Ethics, social workers can use the ETHIC model of decision making for resolving ethical dilemmas. This easy to use five step process includes examining personal, agency, client, and professional values, thinking about ethical standards and relevant laws, hypothesizing about consequences, identifying the most vulnerable, and consulting with supervisors and colleagues. A case example involving confidentiality, HIV/AIDS and family therapy demonstrates how social workers can use the ETHIC model.


2022 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn Lim ◽  
Johanna C Baez ◽  
Meghan Gabriel Pataky ◽  
Ellen Wilder ◽  
Hester Wilhelmina van Sittert

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-41
Author(s):  
Bhagya Hithaishi Jayawardana ◽  
K Nanayakkara

Ethical practice is fundamental to any practiced based profession including social work. The social work profession is a diverse one with a mission to promote wellbeing and quality of life for vulnerable people. Despite serving the society it’s also central to promoting social work Ethics to maintain the professional standards and lessen the ethical issues and dilemma’s faced in day today practice. Ethics are really important to any profession, yet a necessity for those rooted in and human services. In the Sri Lankan context, it is disheartening to see how social workers have lost their professional identity with the absence of a professional code of ethics in place. A qualitative research approach was followed to explore and describe the key ethical challenges faced by the social workers in Sri Lanka. Survey method, in-depth interviews and key informants interviews were utilized and analyzed based on purposive sampling method. The data were categorized based on different themes. The finding proves that there is no proper guideline to be followed for the practitioners, particularly in situations of ethical dilemmas and conflicts. Most of the Human Service Organizations have their own set of rules with lesser focus on the code of ethical conduct. The unethical practice unintentionally promotes the malpractice leading to scenarios where organizational set of rules violates the client’s self determination and confidentiality. Although most of the upcoming social work graduates are made aware of the importance of maintaining an ethical conduct, when they join the work force as social workers they face many constraints due to absence of a formal code of ethics. This has resulted most of the social workers not having any obligations to continue an ethical practice  hence their practice is inevitably not much embedded in ethics. Thus the study provides an outlook on the ethical challenges faced by the social workers specially working in different sectors in Sri Lanka.


Not Just Play ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 134-148
Author(s):  
Meryl Nadel

“Recruitment to the Profession” discusses the key role that nonprofit camps have long played in the recruitment of new social workers. Early efforts were uneven and uncoordinated. During the 1950s and 1960s, shortages in the field impelled recruitment efforts, culminating in the National Commission for Social Work Careers and its recruitment committees. One such committee and its Summer Experience in Social Work Program are detailed. Camps provided paid summer jobs, supervision, a seminar class, and a final two-day workshop, all with the goal of testing interest in and potential for social work. Social Work Seminar, the recruitment program of Camp Wel-Met, is described. The camp experience along with social work values conveyed by camp staff often inspire or confirm a decision to enter the profession. The chapter concludes with reminiscences from social workers about camp experiences and their choice of social work as a career.


2021 ◽  
pp. 97-106
Author(s):  
Ricki L. Moran ◽  
Cristina Marquez ◽  
James Garner

This chapter discusses the importance of clearly establishing social worker roles within and outside of the building and the professional ramifications of differential training between school social workers and teachers. Steps are outlined for maintaining the social work code of ethics while partnering with other school personnel who are not bound to the same code. The importance of explaining confidentiality and its limitations early in the professional relationship is stressed. The social worker should remember to self-disclose only when it benefits the client. Advice is offered for building a solid foundation of trust and establishing credibility during a school social worker’s first three years in a school setting. Potential pitfalls will be discussed as well.


2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark D Olson

Calls to enhance military social work content in social work education present unique challenges for a discipline historically associated with social justice and advocacy for peace. The consequences of war demand intervention along multiple psychosocial domains. However, the question remains as to how social workers can address the discrepancies between social work values and military culture. This article argues that the context-bound nature of social work highlights the reciprocal relationship between macro and micro factors intrinsic to military issues. This provides a holistic understanding of the military system and can enhance educational content on military issues to include international perspectives.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea M. Newberry-Koroluk

This paper explores how the popular use of the expression “hitting the ground running” in reference to beginning social work practice draws upon military imagery and reflects neo-conservative expectations of first-year social workers.  Discussion of the international and Canadian definitions of social work, key social work values, the neo-conservative paradigm, and the role of language in understanding human experiences provides context to this analysis.  Ultimately, it is argued that it is in the best interests of the social work profession for the phrase hitting the ground running to be abandoned (or used critically) when making reference to first-year social workers, and a new metaphor is suggested that could take its place in the social work lexicon.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document