Ethical Dilemmas Facing Social Workers Social Work Essay Essays

Ethical Dilemmas Facing Social Workers Social Work Essay Essays Ethical Dilemmas Facing Social Workers Social Work Essay Essay Ethical Dilemmas Facing Social Workers Social Work Essay Essay moralss can be seen to steer an action and are at that place to inform and act upon any opinions made harmonizing to the professional value base of societal work. Reamer ( 2006 ) provides an penetration into the historical beginnings of values and moralss in societal attention and provinces that they have been at the foundation of societal attention s mission since its origin. He suggests that societal work values and moralss come from four distinguishable phases: the morality period ; the values period ; the ethical theory and decision-making period and the ethical criterions and hazard direction period ( Reamer, 2006 ) . These have culminated in the General Social Care Council s ( GSCC ) codification of behavior that is in topographic point today ( Barnard, 2008 ) . Social workers are duty bound to adhere to the GSCC codifications of pattern which acts as an ethical model. A written codification of moralss enables societal workers to judge their pattern against an ethical criterion and enables service users to understand what behavior they should anticipate from their societal worker. If societal workers are considered to be in breach of the GSCC codifications they can be removed from the societal attention registry and no longer pattern. Professional societal workers must take duty for their actions as they hold a place of trust and power that is legitimised by the province devising moralss an of import factor in answerability. The impact of all pattern on service users can be said to be powerful and hence the moralss and value base emphasises the importance that the moral standing of service users is equal to that of the professional ( Hugman, 2008 ) . The National Occupation Standards ( NOS ) for Social Workers province clearly that values and moralss are cardinal to being a competent practician. Parrott ( 2010 ) suggests that values are of import to societal work as they provide a common set of rules, which societal workers can utilize and develop as a agency of working in an ethical manner with service users . ( direct quotation mark? pg figure ) He goes on to state that they guide professional behavior, aid keep a professional individuality and protect service users from malpractice. It is of import to clear up one s personal values in order to increase one s consciousness of the possible struggles and the impact these may hold on ethical determination devising. A individual s cultural experiences and background will impact the determinations they make and may bias their behavior. Social workers must foremost clear up their ain value stance in relation to value-laden issues they meet in pattern state of affairss if they want to be true to themselves and to their profession ( Dolgoff, 2009:54 ) . When associating moral doctrine and ethical quandary to societal work pattern it is of import to admit that no 1 theory provides an reply. Traditionally societal work has taken the Kantian attack and focused on the societal worker / service user relationship. The demand for societal work to dispute inequality and subjugation on an person and structural degree means extremist societal work is besides still relevant. An overall Kantian Utilitarian Extremist attack may be better. ( Banks, 2006 ) The right of a service user to self finding may conflict with a societal workers statutory responsibility if they are potentially jeopardizing their ain life or that of others ( Clifford and Burke, 2009 ) . Neil Thompson ( 2006, p40 ) defines subjugation as inhuman or degrading intervention of persons or groups ; adversity or unfairness brought approximately by the laterality of one group over another ; the negative and take downing usage of power. It frequently involves ignoring the rights o f an single or group and is therefore a denial of citizenship . Service user s will predominately come from oppressed and marginalised groups and it is important that societal workers acknowledge institutional favoritism and avoid unwittingly pigeonholing service users, intensifying bing subjugations. ( Thompson, 2008 ) Social workers need to be cognizant of the unequal distribution of power within administrations and make up ones mind how best to recommend and negociate within these administrations for the best involvement of the service user, even if it involves disputing the construction and values of an administration from within ( Dominelli, 2002 ) . Paternalism focuses on the right for societal workers with cognition, authorization, and accomplishments to travel into the lives of those who need their aid, either by self referral or referrals from other professions. Mrs Bertram has been referred by another professional because of her Alzheimer s. Ethical consciousness is an of import portion of societal work as it gives the societal worker the ability and committedness to work aboard other professionals and service users. The Utilitarian position is eventful with the consequences given as much consideration as possible. Therefore when believing approximately pattern this attack would state to believe of the individuals outcome ( hereafter ) when covering with the present state of affairs. This would intend weighing the good with the bad. The extremist attack would authorise the service user into alteration enabling them to get the better of jobs and fit them with techniques to cover with these independently in the hereafter. Social workers should affect the service user in the determination devising procedure, working in partnership and maintaining them to the full informed about their instance. The get downing point of covering with this instance would be an appraisal of the Bertram s state of affairs. The assessment undertaking when undertaken in a professional and informed mode is honoring and sets the foundation for farther intercessions ( Wilson, Ruch, Lymbery and Cooper 2008:269 ) . The Bertrams fiscal state of affairs is ill-defined as it appears that Mr Bertram does nt hold much heritage money left which has led to lease arrears. This state of affairs would necessitate to be resolved shortly as their landlord is endangering to evict them for rent arrears and the province of the flat, which could render them both homeless. Mrs Bertrams penetration appears to be badly impaired by her terminal phase Alzheimers and an appraisal of the wellness hazards may necessitate procuring elaborate information from the GP about Mrs Bertram s Alzheimer s and other wellness issues, and the likely forecast. Mr Bertram is believed to be an alcoholic and this could hold deductions for his wellness. The likeliness of a positive result would possibly be increased if Mr Bertram could be offered aid for alcohol addiction every bit good as a carers appraisal to determine what his demands are. He spends considerable clip at his nine, go forthing his married woman entirely in the house vulnerable and at hazard. Mrs Bertram s girls distrust Mr Bertram and believe it s in her best involvement to be moved into residential attention. Before her unwellness advanced Mrs Bertram stated she wanted to remain with her hubby. Possible options to see after the appraisal would be supplying support for Mr and Mrs Bertram at place, traveling them into sheltered adjustment together or traveling Mrs Bertram into residential attention. All these options may be unwelcoming to the Bertrams therefore in order to convey about any alteration it would be of import to first construct a relationship with both Mr Bertram and Mrs Bertram and her girls using the Kantist position that the truth is told. This could intend seeking to pass on with Mrs Bertram at choice times when she is more limpid and can take part every bit much as possible. It is of import to develop/construct a shared apprehension of the job ( s ) being faced ( Wilson, Ruch, Lymbery and Cooper, 2008:282 ) . Opinions should be informed straight by what Mr and Mrs Bertram say about their fortunes. Mr and Mrs Bertram must hold a cardinal portion in the appraisal of their state of affairs, and any issues should be shared leting them to go on to hold every bit much pick as possible. The strengths of this program are that Mr and Mrs Bertram will be involved in the attention program and will be able to show their positions, every bit good as Mrs Bertram s girls being able to lend towards the attention program. This may construct a strong relationship with the household and physique on trust so they do co- operate and see all the options as they will understand that the scheme would be for the wellness and good being of both Mr and Mrs Bertram. As societal workers we need to hold a basic apprehension of what the Bertram s values are as it would be hard to sympathize and acquire the necessary apprehension of their wants if we do non. As societal workers we could so perchance struggle to do advancement when seeking to assist the Bertram s. This professional development is of import as we will utilize this type of growing everyday in the workplace. In this instance the chief value/wish seems to be that the Bertram s stayed together in their place. A societal worker s personal values may inform their apprehension of pattern. However, a societal worker demands to follow the broader model provided by anti-oppressive societal work moralss. The model provided allows a topographic point for personal values but challenges societal workers to put them within the wider model where they are accountable to others and they must abstain from enforcing their values and in fact inquiry them. ( Clifford and Burke, 2009 ) Different parts are made by assorted ethical positions in any given state of affairs and these must be considered. Ethical positions must be considered in visible radiation of an anti-oppressive attack to pattern and in relation to each other as there are occasions when the different positions struggle. Social workers have an obligation to work in a manner that demonstrates non merely cognition of relevant ethical constructs and local Torahs but besides a broader consciousness of how ethical values are related to societal ine qualities and diversenesss ( Clifford and Burke, 2009:203 ) Word Count: 2993 ( including writer inside informations in brackets )