1. SOCIAL WORK VALUES AND ETHICS Chapter 2

2. WHY PROFESSIONAL VALUES? • Medicine • Law • Journalism • Insurance • Social Work • "is a values based profession; that is, everything social workers do must be with professional values in mind.” (Kirst-Ashman 2007)

3. Social Work Values and Ethics • Values- a principle considered worthwhile or important. • “values determine what beliefs are appropriate.” (Kirst-Ashman 2007) • Ethics are derived from values. Guide people on what is “good” and what is “bad.” • “Ethics address what to do with or how to apply those beliefs” (Kirst-Ashman 2007)

4. VALUES Beliefs, preferences, or assumptions about what is desirable or good for humans. • Cannot be scientifically investigated or proven. • Values affect how we practice. • We get to help people clarify their own values. • It’s critical that we understand our own values.

5. Ethical Dilemmas • Values and Ethics are in constant conflict in professional environments which can result in ethical dilemmas or a situation where you must make a difficult choice between two or more alternatives. • Guidelines established for ethical decision making by NASW Code of Ethics

6. SOCIAL WORK MISSION • To enhance human well-being and help meet the basic needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are oppressed, vulnerable and living in poverty. NASW

7. NASW CODE OF ETHICS • Six core values: • Service • Social Justice • Dignity and Worth of the person • Importance of human relationships • Integrity • Competence

8. Purpose of NASW of Ethics • Identify social work values • Guidelines for practice • Addressing ethical dilemmas • Professional Accountability • Upholding missions, goals, ethics inherent in social work profession • Setting specific standards for practice that can be used to judge social work conduct

9. NASW Code of Ethics Standards related to the social worker’s ethical responsibility… to clients. to colleagues. in practice settings. as a professional. to the social work profession. to the broader society.

10. Social Workers’ Ethical Responsibilities to Clients • Self-determination • Privacy and Confidentiality • Conflict of Interest • Dual relationships • Sexual Relationships

11. SELF-DETERMINATON INFORMING CLIENT OF ALL AVAILABLE OPTIONS HELPING TO DEFINE ALTERNATIVES ASSISTING THEM IN EVALUATING THE OUTCOME OF EACH OPTION ULTIMATELY LETTING THE CLIENT MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION

12. Privacy and Confidentiality • Must warn clients about when confidentiality can be broken • Do not ask for more information than is needed to assist client Let’s read the example of Compliance/Violation page 41 in the Kirst-Ashman book

13. Conflict of Interests and Dual Relationships • Conflict of interest is violating the boundaries of the client- professional relationship for personal gain. • Dual Relationships- occur when the social worker assumes two or more roles at the same time or in sequence with a client. Ex. Social Worker/Friend Instructor/Social Worker • The clients best interests must be protected to the maximum extent possible Let’s turn to p 45 and read example of Compliance/Violation

14. Sexual Relationships • Social Workers should not have sexual relationships with current clients, clients’ relatives, or others personally involved with clients or former clients. • Prohibited from providing clinical services to clients with whom they were formerly sexual partners.

15. Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues • Respect • Referral for Services • Ex. I make referrals to social workers in private practice, shelters, catholic charities, substance abuse centers, HIV services when I cannot meet their needs

16. Self Awareness • You must identify your own personal values so that you are careful not to impose them on clients

17. Video • Professional Choices: Ethics at Work. 40 minutes.

18. Discussion Nickel and Dimed • Break into groups of 1-2 people. Each group will be given a discussion question. Take 3 minutes to discuss question. • What are your thoughts so far about Nickel and Dimed in America?

19. For Next Class… • Quiz over Nickel and Dimed pages 1-49. • Discuss Chapter 3 in textbook