Values and Ethics
Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
“Social workers have an obligation to conduct themselves ethically and to engage in ethical decision-making. Social workers are knowledgeable about the value base of the profession, its ethical standards, and relevant law.” – CSWE (2008)
Board of Probation and Parole building in Cleveland, Tennessee
Practice Behaviors
a. Develop a framework, using ethical considerations, for analysis of complex practice environments.
Learning evidenced by:
- Developing a decision-making guide based on the NASW code of ethics for analysis of complex practice environments.
- Examining and reflecting on social issues related to poverty in this paper. In particular this paper discusses the social challenges involving a sugar cane operation in Mali, and how social workers might advocate in this situation.
- Identifying and discussing the application of ethical principles in the context of practice during my field practicum. For example, see Journal 13.
b. Demonstrate autonomous ethical use-of-self and value-grounded practice.
Learning evidenced by:
- Analyzing a case scenario and identifying how I would have intervened in that scenario as the social worker in this paper.
- Reflecting on the Strengths-Based model of case management which forms part of the basis of my social work practice.
- Recognizing the importance of being safety conscious in social work practice for the protection of not only my clients but also of myself.
- Documenting a situation in which the developed decision-making guide was used to resolve an ethical situation involving peers or clients in Journals 16 and 21.
c. Demonstrate leadership in tolerance of ambiguity in resolving ethical conflicts.
Learning evidenced by:
- Creating and distributing an early warning intervention guide and risk-based assessment to probation/parole officers to assist them in determining when their clients might being facing crisis in their lives or when the clients life actions are indicating the need for intervention.
- Documenting how I might address ambiguity if a client were committing welfare fraud in this paper.
- Reflecting on how I would attempt to resolve the ethical conflict of a client intending to cause harm to and/or kill another person, as seen in this paper.
d. Critically analyze personal values and ethical social work principles when designing and implementing interventions across systems.
Learning evidenced by:
- Reflecting on cultural competency and diversity in the context of my personal values and ethical social work principles in this cultural competency paper.
- Discussing how I would integrate personal values and ethical social work principles when working with minority ethnic families or in cases where an interpreter is needed, as seen in this paper.
- Journaling monthly regarding emerging personal and professional values. For example, see Journal 12.