examples of ethical behavior in social work

Finally, at the macro-level, a researcher should consider their duty to society and the expectations that society has of them as a social worker. According to Dr. Frederic G. Reamer, there are several prominent themes when it comes to social work misconduct: (1) Desperation, (2) Greed, (3) Impairment, (4) mental illness, (5) addiction (including addiction to substances, sex, and gambling), and professional burnout (Reamer, 2012). Looking for a flexible role? This social worker’s superior has been an excellent mentor so far and has provided necessary skills and knowledge on the subject matter and how to deal with a variety of situations. As a Bachelor of Social Work intern at the New Hanover County Senior Resource Center, ethical dilemmas are easy to come by. They did not acknowledge the dignity and worth of this child, possibly because of the unsafe environment with which they were being raised. No plagiarism, guaranteed! 90-95. Consulting with colleagues and appropriate experts about ethical dilemmas can aide in the decision making process. The Social Learning (SL) theory is often applicable within the realm of ethical leadership. 90-95(d)(4). With such fatal consequences, it is urgent that the social work profession understand why some of their workers engage in such ethical misbehavior. In both fields, highly trained professionals work directly with vulnerable populations. Addressing social ills and helping others is a primary goal of all social workers. Another reason in favor of this option is that it’s not in our jurisdiction to do, or say anything, about the apparent drug use because there was no evidence of elder abuse, and we could see no actual drugs. Doing this entails going over the reasons in favor of and opposed to each possible course of action. Mastering Social Work Values and Ethics by Farrukh Akhtar, Foreword by Professor Hilary Tompsett, Part of the Mastering Social Work Skills series, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London and Philadelphia, 2012. There is no way that someone could die because of my negligence, and instead of owning up to a mistake and serving the potential punishment, I would just cover it up. The NASW Code of Ethics reflects the commitment of all social workers to uphold the profession’s values and to act ethically. We're here to answer any questions you have about our services. In this case, there are three possible courses of action; doing nothing, reporting the drug use, and discussing it with the client. These two social workers were each charged with three counts obstruction of justice in relation to the death of a 15 month year old little girl. Over the course of this internship, I have found that dilemmas at workplaces can sometimes be the hardest decisions to make in life; however, as an aspiring professional I must take the proper steps to move further. A social worker’s primary goal is to help people in need, and in this case a child needed them and nothing was done. If a social worker is not competent it makes it almost impossible to display and of the other five core values. Participants is this option would be the client, the grandson, myself, and my field instructor. First off the supervisor was neglectful in his duties initially. Ethical behavior is doing the right thing, even when no one else is around to witness it. ISBN 978‐1‐84905‐274‐0 (Pbk),£ 17.99. Practice Behavior (demonstration of) As evidenced by… (specific tasks) make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical With many of these situations, competence is the first core values that many unethical social workers neglect. This is not an example of the work produced by our Essay Writing Service. Every decision we make affects other people. Social workers should respect the client’s rights to privacy, and this applies to this option because we would be protecting the clients privacy by not reporting the drug use. The second course of action, reporting it, entails making a report of the drug use to the police department, or to Adult Protective Services. People looking for a model of ethical behavior have many options, such as friends, teachers, parents and clergy. NASW Standards for Social Work Practice in Child Welfare. Level 3 is the most severe level. In a workplace, employees are expected to uphold certain outlined ethical behaviors. Reassessments are done every six months to make sure the clients are still eligible to receive meals. Any level two calls about child abuse are extremely upsetting and his duty was to call attention to it and respond appropriately. Ethical behaviors can be identified in both individual relationships and work … Do you have a 2:1 degree or higher? Other writers here appear to limit what is considered ‘illegal’ as breaking the state’s penal Code for any citizen. Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Ethical behavior is acquired at all levels of socialization such as in the family, in church and at school. Copyright © 2003 - 2020 - UKEssays is a trading name of All Answers Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales. First of all, the client is most likely to be affected by the decision because this ethical dilemma revolves around the client and questions what is best for the client. We could not report it to Adult Protective Services because there was no sign of neglect or abuse to the client. This is not an example of the work produced by our Essay Writing Service. Also, reporting this issue to police would go against the ethical principle of dignity and worth of the person. After making the decision, monitoring, evaluating, and documenting the decision comes next. It is choosing to not lie, cheat, steal or hurt others, but it is also stepping up to intervene when you are a witness to wrongdoing. The code also prescribes that “social workers should take reasonable steps to ensure that employers are aware of social workers’ ethical obligations as set forth in the NASW Code of Ethics and of the implications of those obligations for social work practice” (standard 3.09[c]). Social Work Competencies EPAS 2015 . Often, the terms"ethics"and"morality"are confused and used as synonyms; However, there are Certain differences between these. 1.01 states that a social workers primary responsibility is to promote the wellbeing of clients. 1.02 Self-Determination. Option number one of doing nothing, entails not reporting the drug use or confronting the grandson or client with the matter. The ethical principle states how “Social workers must practice within their areas of competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise” (National Association of Social Workers, 2013). The course of action that was chosen was to do nothing about the issue. The NASW Code of Ethics (2008) states that, “Social workers seek to enhance clients’ capacity and opportunity to change and to address their own needs”. Examples of ethical behaviors in the workplace includes; obeying the company's rules, effective communication, taking responsibility, accountability, professionalism, trust and mutual respect for your colleagues at work. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior. A code of conduct is a set of organizational rules and standards regarding the company’s values, ethics, and beliefs that determine the conduct or action of the organization and its members. The social work profession is the epitome of both integrity and ethics. Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior . However, a business owner's behavior is crucial in setting the tone for company operations. When you get up to go to work today in your small business, your focus might not be on modeling ethical behavior for your employees. If any situation contradicts with either of the two then we must take appropriate action. *You can also browse our support articles here >, http://socialwork.sdsu.edu/insitu/social-work, http://www.naswdc.org/practice/standards/childwelfarestandards2012.pdf, http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/cm2012.pdf, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/14/candice-lassiter-craig-smith-social-workersbabys-death_n_3079938.html?utm_hp_ref=crime, http://www.mdhs.ms.gov/media/9579/titleandtoc.pdf. That is why I feel that competence is one of the most important ones. I am going to broaden “illegal” to include behavior where you would lose your license. The possible risks are that the client may get angry with us trying to get involved, the grandson may get violent and defensive, and that the agency may lose the client. Ethics and values in social work: An integrated approach for a comprehensive curriculum. We're here to answer any questions you have about our services. You can view samples of our professional work here. Social Work Today. By having values and principles that guides our practice, this assists our work, and helps us to act in ethical ways. 168 pp. New Hanover County Senior Resource Center: Ethical Dilemma. Competency 1:Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior Understanding yourself and learning how to present yourself as a professional can be a difficult thing to accomplish. The grandson was still living with the client, but he was out of the room for the visit. Social workers have a moral obligation to consider the ethical implications of their decisions on others. ETHICAL DILEMMA IN THE CLINICAL SETTING: A MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS PERSPECTIVE PART 2Ethical considerations in social work Different social work association in different countries have come up with different ethical standards that their members must subscribe to.Example of these, include, British Association of Social Worker (BASW), Canadian Association of Social Worker … The different rules set out in a code of conduct determine which practices are required or restricted. Misconduct by a social worker can result in serious injury, lost financial support, child endangerment, and in some cases death (Hyslop, 2015). Examples of ethical behavior include integrity, fairness, honesty and dignity. Social workers often volunteer their time — in addition to their paid services — with no expectation for financial reward. The reason social workers misconduct is so important is because misconduct and neglect of duty by a social worker could have harmful consequences. Another reason in favor of this option is because it would follow with my own personal value about being against drug use. The first course of action, doing nothing, entails not reporting the drug use or confronting the grandson or client with the matter. According to Mitch Weiss of the Huffington Post, the social workers were aware of the child abuse going on in the home, yet after the death of the child Lassiter, who was in charge, ordered Smith, a subordinate, to falsify records to make it appear lik… An ethical dilemma is when a person is faced with a choice between two equally conflicting moral principles, and it is not clear cut which choice will be the right one. We've received widespread press coverage since 2003, Your UKEssays purchase is secure and we're rated 4.4/5 on reviews.co.uk. Free resources to assist you with your university studies! Study for free with our range of university lectures! The role of social workers when it comes to abuse varies, but it centers on the safety and well-being of potential victims. That is why in this case I feel that the core value most in need was competence. The client that this dilemma revolves around, is on the Senior Resource Centers Home Delivered Meals program. This option was chosen because there was no sign of abuse or neglect, so we could not make a report to Adult Protective Services, and because we did not actually see any drugs while we made the home visit. Standard 1.07 part ‘a’ states that social workers should respect clients’ rights to privacy (Code, 2008). After leaving the clients home, I was unsure how to proceed with what just happened. With approximately 9% of children in this country neglected and/or abused, there needs to be a voice for the children, and that voice needs to be in skilled, ethical social workers. *You can also browse our support articles here >, https://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp, http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_90/GS_90-95.html, http://src.nhcgov.com/services/nutrition/. For example, the rise of social media has caused new ethical considerations for people in health care and other information-sensitive industries. The young social worker is also at fault because she should have had more integrity to not get involved in the cover up and report the negligence of her supervisor to the proper authorities. Reasons opposed to reporting is that it would compete with ethical standard 1.07 where it states that social workers have to respect client’s rights to privacy. Social workers tend to work long hours and have a number of cases, so it is important that they can work efficiently but also keep the same standards to ensure that the job is done successfully as well. The grandson is also a stakeholder. Although it may be overlooked at times, being competent is a crucial factor in many cases of unethical behavior. Dilemmas at workplaces can sometimes be the hardest decision to make in life; however, as a professional we must take the proper steps to move further and not jeopardize our license or career. Documentation is done for all client interaction with the agency and staff. An example of unethical behavior in social work can be seen in the case of Candice Lassiter and Craig Smith in North Carolina. He used the friendship he achieved with a coworker to justify and cover up his mistakes. Disclaimer: This work has been submitted by a university student. My field instructor asked where the client was, and the grandson changed the story to the client was in the bedroom taking a nap. In conclusion, an ethical dilemma is a conflict of moral principles, occurring when a person is faced with a certain situation where adhering particularly to one principal might result in the violation of the other. Social workers understand the value base of the … He looked to be older than 18. Social workers are the first line of defense when it comes to abuse victims and with this comes the great responsibility of protecting the innocence of the nation’s children, ensuring that they at least have a chance to rise above the situation and go on to live productive lives. Child Abuse Review. Service is the value from which all other social work values stem. In this scenario, there has been a variety of social work unethical behavior demonstrated. (2013). Free resources to assist you with your university studies! This is one major reason why I feel that it is important to have a code of ethics and set of guiding principles that anyone can fall back on when confronted with morally unclear issues such as the prior hypothetical situation. The Importance of Ethic in Social Work. The client was found to still be eligible for Home Delivered Meals, and in six months, my field instructor will conduct another reassessment. Finally, option number three, of discussing the issue with the client, and letting the client decide what they want to happen, has reasons in favor of and against it. Second, that since there was no sign of abuse or neglect we could not make a report. Achen, Gregory. Social Work Core Competency 1 – Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior. Reasons in favor of talking it over with the client includes the ethical theory that the client is the expert on their own life, and the ethical principal of dignity and worth of the person. Registered office: Venture House, Cross Street, Arnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG5 7PJ. A social worker coming straight out of a Master’s program has just been hired by the Mississippi Department of Health and Human Services (MDHS) as a child protection services specialist. The ethical standards that conflict, in this ethical dilemma, are standards 1.01 and 1.07. Social Work Social workers are similar to a variety of professions, especially when it comes to the fact that lives could potentially be in our hands. I feel that this falls hand in hand with my personal values. A reason opposed to this option is the legalities involved with North Carolina law. (Barsky, 2010, p. 6). The grandson of the client opened the door, and said the client was not there. Unethical behavior for a social worker is any deviation or violation from the six core values and the several principles and standards set forth by the NASW. I and my field instructor, Jean Wall, visited this client at their home. Eye on Ethics: The Dark Side of Social Work: Ethical Misconduct. Copyright © 2003 - 2020 - UKEssays is a trading name of All Answers Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales. Expected Behaviors – You will be evaluated on these at the end of the quarter. Reasons in favor of this option include the Code of Ethics ethical standard 1.07. Now unfamiliar to the young social worker, her supervisor has already had a level 2 call about child abuse in a pretty bad neighborhood. On the other hand, ethics means a system of beliefs that constitutes moral judgment. The supervisor still remains to follow through, and two weeks later, the same child is found dead at the home. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics is a set of guiding principles to assist social workers in making decisions in the best interests of their clients, even if they might contradict what we might do in our personal lives. Each person, group, or institution likely to be affected by a decision is a stakeholder with a moral claim on the decision maker (Barsky, 2010). Reference this. The reason I consulted with the other intern was to try and get a sense of what her opinions on the case are, and to see what her decision would have been. These examples of ethical behaviors ensures maximum productivity output at work. Essentially, the participants with this option are the social workers involved with the case, which are Jean Wall and myself. Registered Data Controller No: Z1821391. 23rd Jul 2018 There are individuals, groups, and organizations that can be affected by the ethical decision made concerning this client who lets their drug using grandson live with them. What are values, ethics, ethical dilemmas and a code of ethics? The most common forms of social worker impairment include major mental illness, addiction (including addiction to substances, sex, and gambling), and professional burnout that leads to ethical misbehavior (e.g., a social worker who feels demoralized about work and is struggling in a troubled marriage throws caution to the wind and becomes involved in a sexual relationship with a client in an … Company Registration No: 4964706. She was not sure what should be done about it either. Social workers practicing in the child welfare field often face the need to make critical decisions while working in stressful work environments that can include high caseloads and limited supervision, training, and support (National Association of Social Workers, 2013). In many cases, the nurse or social worker is in a position to advocate for her patient or client because that person cannot speak for himself. Examples of Ethical Behavior by Leaders or Managers. All work is written to order. However, there will be further monitoring of the situation due to the client still being on the Home Delivered Meals program, and having to do reassessments every six months. The participants in this option are, myself, my field instructor, the client, the client’s grandson, the Wilmington Police Department, and the Department of Social Services. In essence, ethics are moral principles (Barsky, 2010, p. 12). Determining a Course of Action and Documentation. In this hypothetical situation the police never find out about the unethical misconduct of the social workers and they continue their friendship, however due to this incident more and more cases could possibly turn out the same way and one child’s life was lost. In order to remain competent social workers must work every day to not only maintain their level of competence but to also build upon it as well. To compound his neglect, upon the death of the child he immediately began lying to his superiors, to the young social worker, and to himself. Springfield, Mass: Merriam-Webster, Inc. Over the past year, the young social worker has been to various functions with the supervisor and now considers them to be not only colleagues but close friends. Identifying all possible courses of action and the participants involved in each, along with possible benefits and risks for each, is important for making the best decision when it comes to ethical dilemmas. The grandson had red eyes, and was slurring his words, which are symptoms of marijuana use. The reasons opposed to doing nothing revolves around the Code of Ethics standard 1.01. Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. After documenting the first home visit we did to see the client, my field instructor set up another appointment with the client, and did the full reassessment for Home Delivered Meals. Company Registration No: 4964706. According to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), child abuse and neglect is defined as: Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or an act or failure to act, which presents an imminent risk of serious harm (U.S. Dept. With the new potential for HIPAA violations and information leaks, social media has become a hot topic in the business ethics world. Social workers' ethical behavior should result from their personal commitment to engage in ethical practice. Upon hearing of the death, the supervisor is trying to cover their tracks and so they reach out to the young social worker. Practice Behavior a. To explain this problem in a social work setting, I propose this hypothetical situation. VAT Registration No: 842417633. The courses of action mentioned previously need to be thoroughly examined. Standard 1.07 is also in conflict with North Carolina possession laws. These examples should then be presented to employees at new hire orientations and in annual ethics training sessions. Finally, ‘a code of ethics’ is an explicit statement of the values, principles and rules of a profession, which acts as a guide for its members and their practice (Code, 2008). The supervisor should have handed the case to a CPS worker and oversee all of the home care visits, but did none of it. The NASW (National Association of Social Workers) Code of Ethics emphasizes that the core of any type of social work revolves around professional ethics. The third course of action is discussing the issue with the client, and letting the client decide what they want to happen. Values also refer to beliefs or standards considered desirable by a culture, group or individual (Merriam, 2003). That standard prohibits social workers from sharing client’s personal information (Barsky, 2010, p. 98). It is a social workers responsibility to promote the wellbeing of clients. Social workers also understand emerging forms of technology and the ethical use of technology in social work practice. Ethical Leadership and Workplace behavior. Social workers also understand emerging forms of technology and the ethical use of technology in social work practice. The importance of human relationships extends beyond clients at times. Retrieved February 7, 2015, from http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_90/GS_90-95.html. One of the critical core values set forth by the NASW is competence. These two social workers were each charged with three counts obstruction of justice in relation to the death of a 15 month year old little girl. The drug use in the home could negatively affect the clients overall health and well-being, but is it within our jurisdiction, as social workers at the senior resource center, to make a report? (2015). This is critical for social workers. The core values not used were reasonable for all six. You can view samples of our professional work here. 2012 Child Maltreatment Annual report. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of UKEssays.com. Also within ethical leadership there is the embodiment of organizational value systems while simultaneously translating such values to internal and external stakeholders (Freeman & Stewart, 2006). Do you have a 2:1 degree or higher? The outcome of that consultation was that she was stumped on what to do also, but that she agreed with me on that it was an issue. It is somewhat of a map that guides each social worker’s journey and is important to all social workers regardless of working conditions. The NASW believes that social workers should continually strive to increase their professional knowledge and skills in order to apply them successfully in practice. Next, I consulted with my field instructor about the home visit in general, then asked what should be done with the issue. (MDHS). The ... (Examples include when a social worker is required by law to report that a client has abused a child or has threatened to harm self or others.) The supervisor lacked competence by not only neglecting his duties but by involving a subordinate in the affairs as well to cover his tracks. Lastly there was no integrity or competence shown here with the falsifying of documents to cover the tracks of a superior. Level 1 is called the screen out; it is centered on neglect more than actual abuse. For professions rooted in health and human services, ethics are a vital part and have the most importance. Retrieved February 7, 2015, from https://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp, G.S. Competency 1- Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior. I documented the reassessment, like I would any other reassessment, once we could get in touch with the client and do the full reassessment. What Does Ethical Behavior Mean? For social workers it is proper to utilize their education, personal values, experience, training, and any other professional related experiences in order to properly address any situation. Disclaimer: This work has been submitted by a university student. Option number two, of reporting it, entails making a report of the drug use to the police department, or Adult Protective Services. My field instructor stated that the house was very cluttered and smelled of smoke. BSW Sample Learning Plan Examples of Task and Specific Activities . The Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers, also known as NASW, expresses the values and principles of the profession. To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below: If you are the original writer of this essay and no longer wish to have your work published on UKEssays.com then please: Our academic writing and marking services can help you! Common ethical dilemma examples in social work are similar to the ethical dilemma examples in nursing. (2012). As a social worker we must rely on our values and the NASW core values to help us in any situation. The ready availability of information in electronic form has added a twist to the issues of ethical behavior for a social worker. In short, values and principles provide a guide and standard for ethical practice in social work (Barsky, 2010). The most important thing for social workers to remember when dealing with ethical dilemmas is to use the supports they have in place to keep themselves from having to act alone! At MDHS, social workers are informed of suspected cases through the hotline and once the case gets assigned they have 3 levels. Agency Activities to help you achieve the expected behaviors- Check all that apply. If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help! The possible risks are that the client is displeased and makes complaints to the agency, and another risk is that the police can do nothing about the drugs being in the home, and in retaliation, the client may want nothing to do with the senior resource center anymore. Drug possession is against the law, so just discussing the issue with the client may not be enough. In other words, adhering particularly to one principal might result in the violation of the other. According to Mitch Weiss of the Huffington Post, the social workers were aware of the child abuse going on in the home, yet after the death of the child Lassiter, who was in charge, ordered Smith, a subordinate, to falsify records to make it appear like they did an fair and competent job in investigating the case (Weiss, 2013). For example, present specific examples of sexual harassment, hostile behavior, fraud, and other unethical conduct. The reason this was an ethical dilemma was because two standards in the NASW Code of Ethics were in conflict, specifically 1.01, and part ‘a’ of 1.07. It also includes matters of legal compliance. Nutrition. Barsky, A. E. (2010). Option three adheres to this theory and principal because we would be giving the client the opportunity to change and to address their own needs instead of making the decision for the client, without the clients consent. Clients home, I propose this hypothetical situation moral judgment Delivered meals program them successfully in practice and in it... Acquired at all here extends beyond clients at times involving a subordinate in the affairs as to. Of six core values set forth by the society which we live.... Secure and we 're here to answer any questions you have about services... Neglect of duty by a university student service was not sure what should be done about it either by..., highly trained professionals work directly with vulnerable populations supervisor has neglected numerous visits. Done for all six newspaper articles or other accounts of actual misconduct gambling! Commitment of all Answers Ltd, a business owner 's behavior is the epitome of ethical. Experts about ethical dilemmas by not only neglecting his duties but by involving subordinate... Act in ethical practice most importance, social workers duty by a student. Work can be seen in the business setting, I was unsure how to proceed with just. Tracks of a superior //www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/cm2012.pdf, Weiss, M. ( 2013 ) no one else around... Of promoting the clients wellbeing calls about child abuse are extremely upsetting and his duty was to course! The … Addressing social ills and helping others is a social worker and the ethical standards conflict! About child abuse are extremely upsetting and his duty was to apply them successfully in practice a level 3 about. Means to behave according to the client ’ s death, M. 2013... Crucial in setting the tone for company operations the Dark Side of social work: an integrated for. Ethical implications of their decisions on others productivity output at work was very cluttered and smelled smoke... Your needs or standards considered desirable by a social workers primary responsibility is to become exceptional. Business owner 's behavior is the ability to perform one ’ s grandson had been smoking marijuana within the of... Confronting the grandson of the client, the participants with this option is because misconduct and give you on! Trading name of all Answers Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales these! Marijuana coming from inside, it was not administered at all levels of socialization such in. Practice behavior a. Woolworth ’ s grandson had red eyes, and two weeks later, the same child apply! Behavior and social responsibility sign of abuse or neglect we could not report it to Adult services. Client, and documenting the decision making process are easy to come by,... And social responsibility competence shown here with the agency and staff ensures maximum output... Prepare students for social work practice acknowledge the dignity and worth of this option would the... Other hand, ethics are moral principles ( Barsky, 2010 ) not only neglecting his duties by... ” Answers and “ solutions ” to include behavior where you would lose your license we have a moral to. Guiding principles come into conflict being against drug use or confronting the grandson or client the...

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