SCWK 3720 - Class 2 - Chapter 1: Introduction to Social Work Values and Ethics

Questions that SW Values and Ethics may address

• What do we stand for as a profession?

• How do we define what is morally good?

• How can we promote good?

• How can we avoid causing harm?

• What are the sources of our obligations?

• How can we make good decisions when we have conflicting ethical obligations or interests?

ethic

a principle, guideline, or standard that indicates whether certain types of behaviors are right or wrong

values

core preferences or ideals about what is good or important

Morals

a system of rules and principles that defines appropriate and inappropriate behavior for an individual, family, community, or other social unit

professional ethics

guide social workers or other professionals in the choices that they make in their professional capacities

personal ethics

guide people in their private lives, in their roles as parents, family members, friends, neighbors, citizens, and so forth

ethical issues

a situation in which stakeholders need to make decisions about how to respond in light of their ethical obligations (may include questions about how to deal with ethical breaches or ethical dilemmas)

ethical breaches

contravention or infringement of an ethical standard

ethical dilemmas

a situation marked by a difficult choice in how to respond, given that there are conflicting ethical standards, no completely satisfactory option for resolving the ethical concerns, or a lack of clear direction about what is ethically appropriate

principle

a general guide for conduct, such as a professional's ethical principles or an individual's moral principles

standard

a guideline for appropriate behavior; general expectations of behavior for professionals

rules

a specific behavioral guideline, often with consequences for violations (cf., principle, standard)

Beliefs

an understanding of a particular phenomenon. may be based on fact or fiction, accurate perception or misperception, and sound reasoning or faulty reasoning.

Convictions

are deeply held beliefs

Types of Ethical Issues- Was there a breach?

Determining whether there was a violation, falling below standard expected...

Types of Ethical Issues- There was a breach... what do we do now?

Accountability, corrective action, cleaning up a mess

Types of Ethical Issues-How do deal with an ethical dilemma?

Managing conflicting obligations

Types of Ethical Issues-How do we deal with ethical stress?

Knowing what is ethical, but external pressures make it difficult

Remedies for Breaches - Criminal and Civil

occurs when someone sues you in court. you are usually provided defense through union, etc.

occurs when there is situations where the worker has inappropriate relations with a service user or commits fraud, etc.

Remedies for Breaches - Professional

a lot of remedies come from this level, you may get suspended, etc.

Remedies for Breaches - Agency

most dilemmas are dealt is an unprofessional way as per this remedy

Values Clarification

1. reflecting critically on my deeply held preferences

2. giving names to them

3. examining the meaning of each value

4. considering how these values fit together as a system

The study of ethics invites us to ask:

• What are we doing?

• Why are we doing it?

• What should we be doing that would be better?

• Why would that alternative be better?

Moral distress

a situation in which a person knows how to act ethically, but there is pressure on the person to act unethically

virtues

the quality or practice of moral excellence or righteousness