Ethics and Social Work Practice
Introduction The most basic purpose of the Social worker lies in offering helpful services to human being.
The proceedings are formulated for managing empowerment to those who deserves and are comparatively vulnerable and oppressed in society. On ethical grounds, this purpose however, gets interrogated and interpreted by diversified ways. This paper is trying to make an analytical survey over these diversified issues as handled by National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. The purpose is to understand the actual responsibilities and the ethical base that motivates the social workers to perform their responsibilities and duties towards mankind. The paper is interpreting the application of selflessness in the field of managing social justice and equality in the society. Considerations on ethical grounds in the core element of exploring this aspect and is the source to determine the role of social worker in the society.
Code of Ethics National Association of Social Workers provides with determined kinds of code of ethics and these ethical persuasions are based of empirical speculations. National Association of Social Workers declares that the basic purpose of social workers is to promote justice in response to social changes. These approaches are for the clients whom they are supporting for justice. These approaches can be for individuals, to families, to social groups and communities. The potentialities of the social workers lie in the strength to fight against oppression, discrimination, poverty and all kinds of social injustice.
These social workers need to be well aware of legal proceedings and the laws determined for the understanding of all these issues. Promotion of social justice and equality is the core concern of these social workers. These responsibilities are met through direct practice, supervision, advocacy, organizing community, administrative consultation, political social and action. Further developments can be achieved through policy development and appropriate implementation of education and different research evaluations. By these means the social workers establish the core values on humanitarian grounds and add professional excellence and expertise for social benefits. These are six determined motivational proceedings that provide the social workers with a rigid infrastructure.
These six perspectives are the base for implementing necessary socio-political developmental structures to the society and thus are identified as; Service with dedication Social justice through professional support Maintenance of worth and dignity of the client Creating importance for positive human relationships Integrity in activities Declaration of competence Approvals by NASW As approved by NASW (1996) revised in 1999, the NASW ‘Code of Ethics’ is a guide that serves every aspect of managing professional conduct among the social workers. The entire gamut of responsibilities has been categorized under four distinctive sections. These sections declare the role of social workers and their participation of adding positive value to the socio-political construction. The firs section; “Preamble,” declares the professional participation of social workers and their mission for establishing core values. The section that follows makes specific declarations about the “Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics,” and adds all kinds of ethical issues and means to deal with these dilemmas in social work practice.
The third section is about dealing with “Ethical Principles”. This section maintains the diversified demands core values in social work practice to meet every aspect of social justice. The last section elaborates “Ethical Standards,” and is inclusive of specific declarations about the social conducts of these workers and modifies their working proceedings. Ethical Decision Making Making ethical decisions is the basic trouble that social workers face in terms of their practices. These are many instances where these workers need to take firm decisions and that too on the basis of ethical notions.
Since ethics differs from one society and culture to another, these determinations get confusing in many ways. However, the participation of social workers in managing code of conduct for social values is the basis for making any kind of decision. Resolving complex ethical issues, like killing someone in Self defense’ are the aspects that the social workers need to support with excessive logic and reasoning powers. In most cases the decisions are taken in the basis of values, determined ethical principles and regular standards of similar situations. The purpose is to provide an ethical judgment and thus the task of maintain social values is a challenge to the social workers.
It is important that the decisions taken by social workers should be very consistent. Fluctuation in decision making process can add non-reliability among the people and that will harm their motive for establishing social values.Decisions related to good and bad are the major aspects of dealing with sels determined notions supported by selfless decision making capabilities. Proper thinking and absolute ways of managing social work theory are the core concerns of these social workers. They must get obliged to the legal and constitutional declarations. To a great extent they need to get well equipped with work theory and different research works.
Support from laws, agency policies, legislative regulations and different kinds of codes of ethics are the ways to establish the determined ethical notions in the society. Maintenance of personal values added by determined cultural and religious beliefs and social practices are base fosr making any decision. In social terms, the interpretations led by politics and unethical sections are need to be well identified. There are possibilities of getting into various kinds of obligations, but for a social worker these obligations should not influence the process of decision making. Decisions of social workers have great impact over the population and thus should be taken with a well balanced formulation.
Ethical Principles The ethical principles determined by NASW are typically based on social work’s core values of service and their keenness in establishing social justice. The aspects of offering services are declared to be based on the ethical notion of being above the periphery of self interest. Maintenance of human relationships and integrity are the foundational thoughts that should inspire the social workers in performing their practices. Emphasis has been led over pro bono service that is identified as any major financial return. Establishment of social justice can be attained through the process of meeting challenges in the field of social changes to support vulnerable and oppressed class of society.
The changes in the society should be encouraged by the application of dignity and values of individuals. Offering determined decisions in favor of social benefit is an important principle determined for society. Maintain respect and prestige of community is another aspect that the social workers need to concentrate upon. They must take decisions for the welfare of the society and at the same time should maintain social norms of peace and equalty. Issues against diversities and discriminations should be dealt with more carefulness.
To attain social changes the positive aspects must get highlighted. Socially accepted practices and trustworthy activities are the tools that the social workers need to adopt for the maintenance of equality and sustainability in the society. Implementations of ethical principles are therefore the core elements that make the social worker an integral part of the society. Political and economic hindrances can be resolved by public support. But to attain the same, it is important that the social workers follow well articulated principles without ant room for self interest. Value for competence and eligibilities are some of the additional principles that the social workers need to accept on ethical grounds.
The competences are sometimes in favor of social justice and sometimes are acted against the relevant norms. In every phase, the social workers need to maintain the need for psychological and physical existence of ethical believes maintained by the society. It is very important to adopt ethical decisions, but at the same time cultural and social values should be kept for assessments. The chief role of the social worker is to provide the population with environment of peace and equality. In this approach, the participation of ethical notions is mandatory.Conclusion To conclude the responsibilities of social workers and their way of adding ethical values to the society, it is important to note that these people should be well aware of legal proceedings and legislative regulations.
Before offering any suggestion or taking any decision, these social workers should be well acquainted with the subject of socio-cultural activities and norms. The purpose of offering social justice can only be justified, when the process is adopted through ethical norms. Though the application of ethics is confusing to many people, yet the rigid declaration and maintenance of the same is compulsory. For people who are trying to get into social services and are on the way to designate them as social workers; must deal with their selfless instincts and should not think of any profitable dealing. The need to change social norms can be accepted only when the services offered by these social workers are solely for the benefit of the society and without any selfish motive. On ethical ground self less services and dedications are the basic elements of being a social worker.
