Social Work: An Empowering Profession Chapter 5

Values

-Implicit and explicit ideas about what we cherish as ideal or preferable ("good")

-values determine goals and actions, shape beliefs, emotions, attitudes, which in turn shape values

-Value systems often have conflict

Ethics

what people consider correct or right

-"values in action"

Microethics/Macroethics

-Microethics deals with standards/principles that direct practice.

-Macroethics, or social ethics, concerned with organizational arrangements and values, ethical principles that underlie/guide social policy

History of Social Work Values

-originally focused on reforming individuals (need was defect in character)

-shifted to morality in social work profession with Settlement House, Great Depression

-Milford Conference- philosophy of social work, focused on morality of profession, values

Core Values

IFSW: "The purpose of the social work profession is to promote human community well-being. Guided by a person and environment construct, global perspective, respect for human diversity, and knowledge based on scientific inquiry, social work's purpose is actualized through its quest for social and economic justice, the prevention of conditions that limit human rights, the elimination of poverty, and the enhancement of the quality of life for all persons."

Value Context

When systems with differing values overlap it causes a mix of conflicting values.

Society Values (social/cultural)

In US:

-Judeo-Christian: dignity/worth,helping others

-Puritan: work ethic

-individualistic interpretation of democratic ideals

Perspectives of Service Delivery

Humanitarian- societal conditions impinge on individual's abilities; services are citizens' right

Punitive- blames individual for problem, makes receiving services negative

Agency Values

include philosophy, mission, policies and procedures, eligibility priorities

-must uphold NASW standards for personnel selection, staff development, evaluation, promotion, benefits, termination

Client System Values

-individualized social/cultural values

-seek solutions w/in client values if possible

Problems and Values

Problems: moral or ethical

intersystem conflicts: conflicts between self and others

intrasystem conflicts: conflicts within self

Social Workers' Personal Values

-must be self-aware, know barriers/biases

Six Purposes for Code of Ethics

1-identify core values

2-summarize broad ethical principles the reflect values and specific ethical standards

3-help social workers identify obligations when conflict/uncertainties arise

4-provide general public standards to hold profession to

5-socializes new practitioners to the field

6-articulates standards profession can use to assess self

International Code of Ethics

IFSW: equality, worth, dignify of all people, meet human needs, develop human potential, alleviate poverty, liberate vulnerable/oppressed

Radical Code of Ethics

-Jeffrey Galper

-to create noncapitalisitic welfare state

-people above profits, empower poor

Ethical Principles

-acceptance

-individualization

-purposeful expression of feelings

-nonjudgmental attitudes

-objectivity

-controlled emotional involvement

-self-determination

-access to resources

-confidentiality

-accountability

Empowerment Ethical Preferences

Care, autonomy, power (to achieve social justice), change, respect, critical thinking, praxis (loop of action and reflecting), discourse, critique, justice, contextual practice, inclusion, anti-oppressive practice, advocacy, collaboration, politicized practice

What are values?

the implicit and explicit ideas about what we cherish as ideal or preferable

What are ethics?

what people consider correct or right. It represents "values in action."

What is microethics?

deals with those standards and principals that direct practice

What is macroethics?

or social ethics, is concerned with organizational arrangements and values as well as ethical principles that underlie and guide social policies

What is Ethical Behavior?

actions that uphold moral obligations and comply with standards for practice as prescribed by ethical codes

What are intersystem conflicts?

conflicts between themselves and others

What are intrasystem conflicts?

moral dilemmas within themselves

Who developed the Code of Ethics for Radical Social Service?

Jeffrey Galper

What is the Code of Ethics for Radical Social Service?

reflects the call for a transformation of social welfare along socialist lines and revolutionary change in society to create a non capitalistic welfare state