Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Professionalism and ethics make up the core foundation that all other social work practice behaviors build upon. As a social worker, my goal is to exemplify the NASW code of ethics in all areas of practice and throughout each competency.
Social workers understand the importance of developing ethical frameworks to guide decisions and interactions with clients, colleagues, and organizations. Social work ethics incorporate values, theories, and law in order to make a positive impact in the community and to avoid causing harm. Following social work ethics will ensure that actions made are promoting values such as social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and self determination. Social work ethics go beyond using frameworks. Self care and continued supervision assist social workers to sharpen skills, address biases, and prevent burnout, leading to a longer, healthier career.
Through professionalism and strong communication skills, social workers can connect with individuals from all walks of life and lift up the voices of the vulnerable effectively. Professionalism demonstrates the validity of the social work model and profession to individuals from other fields. Research is consistently providing new information about community needs and evidence based interventions. Social workers strive to continue to learn and grow professionally and so that services reflect the most relevant research as a part of professional practice.
Practice Behaviors:
1A: Develop a practice framework for analysis of complex environments, that is ethical, value-grounded, and evidenced-based
Field Evidence: At the start of my practicum at Adoration Hospice, I received volunteer training that included reading through the organization’s policies and procedures manual. I then compared these policies and procedures to the NASW Code of Ethics along with several social work theories. In supervision, I was able to discuss how the hospice framework and the field of social work align and how I will ethically reconcile any differences that may arise. I then developed a diagram as a visual representation of a practice framework to utilize throughout the rest of my practicum experience and beyond.
1B: Implement supervisory and self-care strategies that integrate professional strengths, limitations, and challenges.
Field Evidence: Through my practicum experience with Adoration Hospice, I have learned about the importance of self-care as a means to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue. Hospice social workers are at an especially high risk of experiencing burn out due to involvement in high stress situations and the emotional impact of death. To combat this, I have implemented self-care strategies to cope with the stressors related to this type of social work. I have utilized a self care planner to help me maintain self-care goals. Self care was regularly incorporated into supervision with my field instructor. Here is an example of a journal where I discussed boundaries and self care with my field instructor.
1C: Exhibit commitment to professional growth through continuing education, supervision, and ongoing consultation
Course Evidence: Continuing my education is something that I am passionate about and the MSW program has provided many opportunities for professional growth. While taking the course Advanced Administration (SOCW-612), I was able to go through CITI training and became CITI certified after passing the exam. This training was about the importance of ethical and responsible research. Confidentiality, conflict of interest, and informed consent are examples of topics covered. Becoming certified signifies that I understand the importance of ethical research and practical ways to protect both the safety of human subjects and the integrity of research that I may be involved with throughout my career.
1D: Demonstrate professional oral and written communication skills
Academic Evidence: Developing a fact sheet to bring awareness to a Tennessee state bill as an advocacy strategy for policy change was an assignment in Advanced Social Policy (SOCW-609). The project was a way to creatively demonstrate professional written communication skills. It was important for this fact sheet to be professional as the goal was to be able to share important information about incarceration rates in Tennessee with community members, stakeholders, and even politicians to effect change.
Knowledge: While completing activities related to this competency, I utilized my knowledge of NASW code of ethics, hospice philosophy, and Adoration Hospice policies to guide my professional practice. In addition to these skills, I learned how to effectively document as a medical social worker which involved understanding medical terminology and medications. For academic work I relied on my ability to evaluate research, theories, as well as how to present information in a professional manner.
Values: The values that I found guided my ethical practice the most were integrity and competence. As a social worker, integrity is important to me as I want all my interactions to reflect the NASW code of ethics and responsible practice. Throughout the MSW program, both in the classroom and field, I have taken opportunities to learn as much as I can to become a competent social worker.
Skills: For this competency, I utilized skills of research, communication, documentation, self-reflection, self-care planning, and consulting with mentors.
Cognitive: Understanding information was the cognitive used for this competency. Interpreting and comparing a variety of frameworks, theories, and information learned in trainings and class was important for the development of my theoretical framework and the completion of practice behaviors related to ethics and professionalism.
Affective: The affective used for this competency is valuing. I value the clients and wanted to make sure that I was providing ethical and competent services. When I interacted with clients, I made sure to embody the NASW code of ethics, social work mission and Hospice policies. This involved taking the time to listen to clients, implementing interventions, and communicating with the rest of the hospice team through documentation.
Theories: Framing is a theory that describes how the choices a person makes is based upon their values and personal beliefs. This theory has helped me evaluate why I may make the decisions I do and has helped deconstruct any personal biases identified when I begin to feel uncomfortable in a situation. This has allowed me to provide a safe space for all clients to receive professional and ethical services.