Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Social workers understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards, as well as relevant policies, laws, and regulations that may affect practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand that ethics are informed by principles of human rights and apply them toward realizing social, racial, economic, and environmental justice in their practice. Social workers understand frameworks of ethical decision making and apply principles of critical thinking to those frameworks in practice, research, and policy arenas. Social workers recognize and manage personal values and the distinction between personal and professional values. Social workers understand how their evolving worldview, personal experiences, and affective reactions influence their professional judgment and behavior. Social workers take measures to care for themselves professionally and personally, understanding that self-care is paramount for competent and ethical social work practice. Social workers use rights-based, antiracist, and anti-oppressive lenses to understand and critique the profession’s history, mission, roles, and responsibilities and recognize historical and current contexts of oppression in shaping institutions and social work. Social workers understand the role of other professionals when engaged in interprofessional practice. Social workers recognize the importance of lifelong learning and are committed to continually updating their skills to ensure relevant and effective practice. Social workers understand digital technology and the ethical use of technology in social work practice.
Social workers:
- make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics within the profession as appropriate to the context;
- demonstrate professional behavior; appearance; and oral, written, and electronic communication;
- use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes; and d. use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior.
Exemplifying ethical and professional behavior in social work practice is about more than just sticking to a set of rules—it’s about embodying values such as respect, fairness, and integrity in every interaction. Social workers must handle complex situations with sensitivity and empathy while maintaining clear boundaries to uphold the trust of those they serve. Central to this competency is an understanding and appreciation for diverse cultures, ensuring that every individual receives ethical and professional treatment regardless of background or identity. Social workers must implement self-reflection, a willingness to learn from mistakes, and a commitment to ongoing growth in one’s professional practice. By engaging in self-reflection and learning from past experiences, social workers develop critical thinking skills and deepen their self-awareness, enabling them to recognize and address areas for improvement. I will demonstrate this competency by embracing the NASW code of ethics as a guiding principle and seeking counsel from experienced supervisors when faced with ethical dilemmas. This proactive approach demonstrates a commitment to ethical integrity as well as encourages a culture of accountability and continuous improvement in social work practice.
During the school years I engaged in a variety of activities that helped me develop mastery of this competence. I have completed assignments that have helped me in my development of competency one and have practiced competency one in my practicum setting.
School Work: The Flower
This assignment was for my Networking and career development class. This assignment entails my favorite working conditions, favorite types of people to work with, favorite values, favorite skills, and favorite interests. This assignment helped me to get to know myself better in a professional context. Through learning about my favorite working conditions, I am now able to create an environment where I can perform at my best. Through learning about my favorite types of people to work with, I will be able to form relationships with coworkers who share similar work styles and values. This will improve communication and collaboration which will enhance teamwork. By focusing on tasks and projects that align with my strengths and passions, I will be able to deliver high-quality work, demonstrate expertise, and contribute positively to my team and organization. I believe that this will help me to be more professional and ethical in the workplace. I am able to see my own strengths and weaknesses and apply them to my practice so that I can excel professionally.
Field: Ethics and Professionalism Presentation
I created a presentation demonstrating ethical and professional behavior when working with survivors of sexual assault for the staff in the Rape Crisis Center at Partnership. The presentation included information on upholding ethical standards, maintaining professional boundaries, advocating for clients, and confidentiality. Through the research and presentation, I developed my knowledge on competency one and my skills in professional communication and ethical decision-making. For this presentation, I was required to convey the information clearly, engage my audience, and approach a sensitive topic in a professional and appropriate manner. Through the examination of the NASW code of ethics and the CSWE social work competencies, I deepened my knowledge of the values and standards that social workers are expected to uphold, providing me with the theoretical foundation for ethical decision-making in my practice. I believe that this information is essential to the staff at Partnership and will help to create an environment where our clients can feel safe and where they will be treated ethically and professionally.
Other Evidences: Research Presentation
I presented for campus research day at Southern Adventist University. My group did a study on how the Practices and Perceptions of Self-Care Relate to Burnout and Resilience in Undergraduate Students at Southern Adventist University. We presented in front of a committee as well as other Southern students. Through presenting, I developed skills in professionalism through engaging with colleagues to clearly present my findings, methodology, and research question. I demonstrated professionalism by being thoroughly prepared and by having an in-depth knowledge of my materials. I gained skills in ethics by ensuring my study was unbiased and presented in a factual manner. I also ensured that all identifying information remained confidential, which is the responsibility of an ethical and professional social worker.