ethics of social work

ethics of social work

BASW expects employers to ensure social workers’ learning and development needs are met and seek adequate resources to do so. Maintaining professional boundaries Social workers should establish appropriate boundaries in their relationships with service users and colleagues, and not abuse their position for personal benefit, financial gain or sexual exploitation. The National Social Work Competency Framework . Social workers should take responsibility for ensuring they have access to professional supervision and discussion which supports them to reflect and make sound professional judgements based on good practice. These decisions are not always easy – especially when two guiding principles come into conflict. The holistic focus of social work is universal, but the priorities of social work practice will vary from country to country and from time to time depending on cultural, historical, legal and socio-economic conditions. They should engage in ethical debate with their colleagues and employers to share knowledge and take responsibility for making ethically informed decisions. Her book, Ethics and Values in Social Work was published by Macmillan in 1995. They should challenge and seek to address any actions of colleagues who demonstrate negative discrimination or prejudice. Values and ethics in Social Work’ is an essential source for student social workers. Social workers should strive to carry out the stated aims of their employers or commissioners, provided they are consistent with the Code of Ethics. Author: The Policy, Ethics and Human Rights Committee of ethics in social work within the Irish context. Social workers have a responsibility to promote social justice, in relation to society generally, and in relation to the people with whom they work. Search for other … Treating each person as a whole Social workers should be concerned with the whole person, within the family, community, societal and natural environments, and should seek to recognise all aspects of a person’s life. The Code of Ethics for Social Work The 1996 NASW Delegate Assembly approved the social work Code of Ethics, with revisions made in 2017.Codified as a resource for social work values and professional conduct, the code consists of four sections: a summary of the core values and mission of social work; a guide to navigating ethical dilemmas and issues; a description of the ethical principles that inform social work practice; … Updated: October 2014. The Code of Ethics for Social Work Values and ethical principles wwwww British Association of Social Workers 9 2.2 Social justice Value Social workers have a responsibility to promote social justice, in relation to society generally, and in relation to the people with whom they work. Academic Michael Preston-Shoot points to the areas of learning that need improvement if child … Its clarity and accessibility make it an invaluable learning source. * The definition was revised in 2014. In social work one is forced to make decisions that involve ethical judgements. Social workers should not collude with the erosion of human rights or allow their skills to be used for inhumane purposes such as systematic abuse, detention of child asylum seekers and threats to family life of those in vulnerable positions. In solidarity with those who are dis-advantaged, the profession strives to alleviate poverty and to work with vulnerable and oppressed people in order to promote social inclusion. There will be variations in interpretation and guidance in the different countries. Social workers have a responsibility to promote and work to the Code of Ethics in carrying out their obligations to people who use social work services, to their employers, to one another, to colleagues in other disciplines and to society. In everyday usage, ‘values’ is often used to refer to one or all of religious, moral, cultural, political or ideological beliefs, principles, attitudes, opinions or preferences. The Code is binding on all social workers who are BASW members in all roles, sectors and settings in the UK. Ethical Case Studies. Social workers should recognise the limits of their practice and seek advice or refer to another professional if necessary to ensure they work in a safe and effective manner. Their ability and commitment to act ethically is an essential aspect of the quality of the service offered to those who engage with social workers. The practice principles are not intended to be exhaustive as some ethical challenges and problems facing social workers in practice are common and others are specific to particular countries and settings. Implications for Social Work. Useful Tips. Goldstein (1987) referred to this as the ‘neglected moral link’ in social work practice. This is a method of qualitative research which varies markedly in its theoretical framework, structure, process and orientation from those employed in quantitative methodology (Sarantakos 1997). Social workers should assist people to understand and exercise their rights including making complaints and other remedies. Social workers have a responsibility to apply the professional values and principles set out above to their practice. They should work towards promoting the best interests of individuals and groups in society and the avoidance of harm. Ethical conflicts, and the moral distress which they may cause, can give rise to unease, guilt, and burnout (Raines 2000). Social workers should support people to reach informed decisions about their lives and promote their autonomy and independence, provided this does not conflict with their safety or with the rights of others. The Code is also supported by other BASW policy documents. Social work interventions range from primarily person-focused psychosocial processes to involvement in social policy, planning and development. "Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Challenge ethics and values that negatively affect practice You should constructively challenge colleagues when you believe their ethics and values are negatively affecting their methods in social work practice. In codes of ethics principles are often divided into two kinds: Ethical principles – general statements of ethical principles underpinning the work, relating to attitudes, rights and duties about human welfare, for example: ‘respect for the autonomy of service users’; ‘promotion of human welfare’. … The British Association of Social Workers is the professional association for social workers in the United Kingdom (UK). Social workers should build and sustain professional relationships based on people’s right to control their own lives and make their own choices and decisions. They should enable people to access all information recorded about themselves, subject to any limitations imposed by law. This Code includes four sections: The first Section, "Preamble," summarizes the social work profession's mission and core values. Social work relationships should be based on people’s rights to respect, privacy, reliability and confidentiality. Social workers should communicate effectively and work in partnership with individuals, families, groups, communities and other agencies. The Code of Ethics states the values and ethical principles on which the profession is based. The Association has a duty to ensure as far as possible that its members discharge their ethical obligations and are afforded the professional rights necessary for the safeguarding and promotion of the rights of people who use social work services. Social workers should promote and contribute to the development of positive policies, procedures and practices which are anti-oppressive and empowering. Social work utilises a variety of skills, techniques, and activities consistent with its holistic focus on persons and their environments. E-mail: s.j.banks@durham.ac.uk. Challenging unjust policies and practices Social workers have a duty to bring to the attention of their employers, policy makers, politicians and the general public situations where resources are inadequate or where distribution of resources, policies and practice are oppressive, unfair, harmful or illegal. Social workers should develop and maintain the attitudes, knowledge, understanding and skills to provide quality services and accountable practice. They should act with integrity and treat people with compassion, empathy and care. The Anti-Poverty Practice Guide for Social Work, IFSW and other international social work organisations, Influencing social work policy in the Commonwealth, Practice, policy and education groups (PPEGs), Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for Independents, Umbrella service companies & tax avoidance scheme investigations, Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF), Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS) 2020, Support for newly-qualified social workers, The international definition of social work (2014)*, Professional Support Service: Access support, Professional Support Service: Frequently Asked Questions, Copyright © 2021 British Association of Social Workers. Social workers should use professional knowledge and experience to engage in research and to contribute to the development of ethically based policy and programmes. On the occasion of National Social Work Week 2005, the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) adopted a new Code of Ethics and published Guidelines for Ethical Practice to serve as a companion document to the Code. Social workers should identify dilemmas about confidentiality and seek support to address these issues. practice. Making considered professional judgements Social workers should make judgements based on balanced and considered reasoning, maintaining awareness of the impact of their own values, prejudices and conflicts of interest on their practice and on other people. The NASW Code of Ethics continues to be the most accepted standard for social work ethical practice worldwide. Social workers should be prepared to challenge discriminatory, ineffective and unjust policies, procedures and practice. The following is an outline of the etiology of its creation and major points. These key documents were reviewed and agreed in 2010 by IFSW and IASSW. Ethics and values in social care research Ethics and values are a fundamental part of the way people work in social care, so much so that in social work they are one of the nine capabilities within the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF). This Code of Ethics replaces the 2002 version. These ethics are of great importance to all social work students as well. Social work is based on respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all people as expressed in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and other related UN declarations on rights and the conventions derived from those declarations. The Code is not designed to provide a detailed set of rules about how social workers should act in specific situations or practice guidance. Social workers should ascertain and respect, as far as possible, each individual’s preferences, wishes and involvement in decision making, whether or not they or other persons have powers to make decisions on the person’s behalf. Although the subject matter of ethics is often said to be human welfare, the bigger picture also includes the flourishing of animals and the whole ecosystem. The NASW Code of Ethics sets forth these values, principles, and standards to guide social workers’ conduct. So, for example, ‘social workers should respect the autonomy of service users’ is an ethical principle; whereas, ‘social workers should not disclose confidential information to third-party payers unless clients have authorised such disclosure’ might be regarded as an ethical standard or rule. However, they are … Working definitions of values and social work values. The Association has a duty to ensure as far as possible that its members discharge their ethical obligations and are afforded the professional rights necessary for the safeguarding and promotion of the rights of people who use social work services. Social workers should give people the information they need to make informed choices and decisions. The individual help seeker is in a position of weakness that is some- times very evident. Social workers should be prepared to report bad practice using all available channels including complaints procedures and if necessary use public interest disclosure legislation and whistleblowing guidelines. Although social work is a profession laden with contradictions, the primary task within the social work profession is to ensure that the directives and principles enshrined in social work ethics, call on social workers to establish human rights and willingly be able to challenge unjust principles (Allan et al 2009). Professional social work is focused on problem solving and change. Principles have a much broader scope than rules (or ‘standards’), tending to apply to all people in all circumstances (although in the case of social work, principles often refer to ‘all service users’). Social workers should maintain clear, impartial and accurate records and provision of evidence to support professional judgements. The Association commends and promotes the Code of Ethics to all social workers, educators and employers of social workers in the UK. Social workers need to acknowledge the impact of their own informal and coercive power and that of the organisations involved. In social work code of ethics, an ethical dilemma is a situation requiring action on part of the social worker wherein there is no clean success – that is, two or more ethical principles are in conflict with one another. For good reasons, the ethics of care perspective is compatible with the social work profession's overriding concern about human well-being, relationships, and interdependency. The ethical practice principles apply across the UK but they are not intended to be exhaustive or to constitute detailed prescription. What are the roles of a Social Worker? Social workers should use the authority of their role in a responsible, accountable and respectful manner. The professional association for social work and social workers, The Anti-Poverty Practice Guide for Social Work, IFSW and other international social work organisations, Influencing social work policy in the Commonwealth, Practice, policy and education groups (PPEGs), Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for Independents, Umbrella service companies & tax avoidance scheme investigations, Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF), Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS) 2020, Support for newly-qualified social workers, Professional Support Service: Access support, Professional Support Service: Frequently Asked Questions, Copyright © 2021 British Association of Social Workers. Its mission is to enable all people to develop their full potential, enrich their lives, and prevent dysfunction. The Social Work Code of Ethics was last issued in 1994. It is relevant to all social workers and social work students regardless of their specific functions or settings. (adapted from Banks, S. (2012) Ethics and Values in Social Work, 4th edition, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, BASW Macmillan Practical Social Work Series), Working definitions of ethics and professional ethics. It takes as its starting point the internationally agreed Definition of Social Work (International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), (2000) and has also incorporated the international statement, Ethics in Social Work – Statement of Principles (IFSW and IASSW, 2004) with some revisions. The social workers Code of Ethics are at the core of the profession. Social workers have a responsibility to respect and uphold the values and principles of the profession and act in a reliable, honest and trustworthy manner. Challenging discrimination Social workers have a responsibility to challenge discrimination on the basis of characteristics such as ability, age, culture, gender or sex, marital status, socio-economic status, political opinions, skin colour, racial or other physical characteristics, sexual orientation or spiritual beliefs. Social workers should strive to create conditions in employing agencies and in their countries where the principles of the Code are discussed, evaluated and upheld in practice. They should contribute to social work education, including the provision of good quality placements, and ensure students are informed of their ethical responsibilities to use the Code in their practice. This is to make sure that ethics and values are upheld by all social workers. It is understood that social work in the 21st century is dynamic and evolving, and therefore no definition should be regarded as exhaustive. Exceptions to this may only be justified on the basis of a greater ethical requirement such as evidence of serious risk or the preservation of life. Professional ethics are at the core of social work. They should value and respect the contribution of colleagues from other disciplines. These include counselling, clinical social work, group work, social pedagogical work, and family treatment and therapy as well as efforts to help people obtain services and resources in the community. Rationale: Social workers often practice within institutions or organizations that have goals, policies, or environments that are not driven by social work values. Section 3 comprises practice principles which indicate how the general ethical principles outlined in Section 2 should be put into practice in a UK context. Social workers should take into account appropriate codes of practice, legislation, governance frameworks, professional practice and training standards in each UK country, provided they are consistent with the Code of Ethics. Professional social workers often hold undergraduate or Master’s degree in Social Work, but a fair amount of their knowledge comes from gaining on-the-job experience. Recognising diversity Social workers should recognise and respect the diversity of the societies in which they practise, taking into account individual, family, group and community differences. All social workers are beholden to the Social Work Code of Ethics —otherwise known as the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics — during their studies and vow to abide by its standards and principles throughout their careers. Standards can also be divided into two kinds, although often they are not clearly distinguished in codes of ethics: Ethical standards or rules – some general ‘do’s and don’ts’, sometimes framed as ‘standards’ for example: ‘do not permit knowledge to be used for discriminatory policies’; ‘protect all confidential information’. Distributing resources Social workers should ensure that resources at their disposal are distributed fairly, according to need. As part of the social work values outlined in the NASW Code of Ethics, each social worker must practice within his or her scope of competence and avoid misrepresenting his or her skills or experience to potential clients. Principles are essential norms in a system of thought or belief, which form the basis of reasoning in that system. Principles of professional practice – general statements about how to achieve what is intended for the good of the service user, for example: ‘collaboration with colleagues’. Copyright © British Association of Social Workers This is common for practitioners of value-based professions, and has been widely reported. ethical. BASW’s Code of Ethics first adopted in 1975, has been revised and updated on several occasions. Ethical awareness is a necessary part of the professional practice of any social worker. Promoting the right to participation Social workers should promote the full involvement and participation of people using their services in ways that enable them to be empowered in all aspects of decisions and actions affecting their lives. Sections 1 and 2 of this document draw on the background, definition and statement of ethical principles of the IFSW/IASSW (2004) document, with amendments including the addition of ‘professional integrity’ as a value alongside human rights and social justice. Since its beginnings over a century ago, social work practice has focused on meeting human needs and developing human potential. Respect for human rights and a commitment to promoting social justice are at the core of social work practice throughout the world. The full text is available at the NASW website. Social work practice addresses the barriers, inequities and injustices that exist in society. People who use social work services may be individuals (children, young people or adults), families or other groups or communities. Social workers should reflect and critically evaluate their practice and be aware of their impact on others. Complaints and other agencies referred to this as the motivation and justification for social workers contribute. Disseminate knowledge, theory and practice may be individuals ( children, young people or ). Are offered and delivered in a system of thought or belief, which form the basis of reasoning in system! The world reasoning in that system regardless of their specific functions or settings,... 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