Every Profession Has A Code Of Ethics That Guides It
Every Profession Has A Code Of Ethics That Guides Professional Behavio
Identify specific standards for your post. If you don’t have field experience that applies to this Discussion, you can apply other social work experience, including internships (my internship is working with hospice clients) or professional experience, or apply a case study from this course. Post a response to the following: Select feminist theory or empowerment theory. Summarize the underlying principles and values of the theory in 3–4 brief sentences. Analyze the extent to which the underlying principles and core values of the theory, as found in the preamble, are consistent with the NASW Code of Ethics in 3–4 brief sentences.
Briefly describe a client from your fieldwork or other professional experience and their presenting problem in 2–3 sentences using the theory you selected. Identify one ethical standard from the NASW Code of Ethics that would apply to the client you described. Be sure to identify the numerical standard from the code of ethics to which you are referring. Explain how the theory is consistent with the work you did with the client and the ethical standard.
Paper For Above instruction
In this discussion, I have chosen empowerment theory as the focus for analyzing its ethical alignment with the NASW Code of Ethics, particularly in the context of my professional experience working with hospice clients. Empowerment theory emphasizes fostering clients’ self-efficacy, promoting their strengths, and supporting their autonomy to make informed decisions about their lives. At its core, the theory values dignity, respect, and the inherent worth of every individual, aligning closely with social work's fundamental principles of service, social justice, and the dignity and worth of the person.
The principles of empowerment theory include encouraging clients to recognize their own strengths and resources, facilitating their participation in decision-making processes, and advocating for social change that benefits marginalized populations. These core values, such as respect for individuals' autonomy and the promotion of social justice, resonate strongly with the NASW Code of Ethics preamble, which emphasizes the importance of respecting the inherent dignity and worth of every person and the promotion of human rights. Both frameworks uphold the necessity of empowering clients as active participants in their care and advocates for social change, demonstrating consistency in values and ethical commitments.
In my professional experience with a hospice patient, the client was an elderly woman facing end-of-life decisions and expressing feelings of loss of control over her circumstances. Using empowerment theory, I aimed to support her in articulating her wishes for her care, respecting her autonomy, and encouraging her to participate actively in decision-making about her treatment options. One relevant ethical standard from the NASW Code of Ethics is Standard 1.01: "Service," which emphasizes prioritizing clients' interests and respecting their self-determination. This standard aligns with the core tenets of empowerment theory, which advocates for enabling clients to exercise their personal agency, even in vulnerable and terminal states. By applying empowerment principles, I found that my support facilitated her sense of control and dignity, directly aligning with the ethical imperative to uphold clients' autonomy and promote their well-being during a critical life stage.
References
- National Association of Social Workers. (2017). Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. NASW.