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Please see attachments although students of social work have not yet satisfied the criteria to earn the title of “social worker,” they are bound by the same ethical requirements as titled social workers. Social workers regularly face ethical issues of varying magnitude, and social work students may as well. Some issues seem obvious, while others may emerge in subtle ways. For this discussion, select one of the following scenarios. Consider the dilemma described, and imagine how you might feel if you found yourself in a similar situation.
Think about the ethical obligations you would have as a social worker or social work student. Scenario 1: You are a social worker in a public health department providing services to pregnant women. As part of your duties, you provide parenting education, support, and connection to community resources, and you follow up with the families and their newborns for six months after birth. Ms. C has been a client of yours during two pregnancies in the last three years.
She has a 15-year-old, a nine-year-old, a three-year-old, and a newborn. On this day, you are making a routine visit to Ms. C, who lives in an older mobile home in a rural area of the county. You take with you a newly hired social worker who is in training. When you arrive at the house, you find that it is clean and the two older girls are busy doing their homework.
The three-year-old is playing, and Ms. C is feeding the baby. During the visit, the new social worker asks Ms. C whether she is looking for work. When you discreetly ask her about birth control, the social worker remarks, motioning to the 15-year-old daughter, “You better get her on birth control if you do not want more babies around here.” Ms. C does not respond to the other social worker, instead maintaining her focus on you. You can tell that she is bothered by the remark about her daughter.
Scenario 2: You are at lunch with some of your social work colleagues at a mental health center. While you are eating lunch, one of your colleagues says, “So, none of you can beat my morning. I had a borderline in my office who was definitely off her meds. She kept jumping out of the chair and spinning around the room and she was talking really fast about having a baby and being pregnant. I did not even try to deal with her. I called the Access Team and it took them half an hour to get to my office. The whole time I am watching her spin around, and I cannot help but laugh. They took her for an evaluation, but that was the craziest woman.”
By Day 4, reflect on these scenarios and outline the steps you would take to address the situation ethically. Justify your response with evidence from the readings.
Paper For Above instruction
Ethical practice is central to social work, demanding adherence to professional principles even when faced with challenging situations. The two scenarios presented emphasize distinct ethical dilemmas that require careful, principled responses rooted in the Social Work Code of Ethics, which emphasizes service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence (NASW, 2021). The following discussion delineates the steps I would take to address each situation appropriately and ethically, supported by relevant literature.
Scenario 1: Addressing Inappropriate Remarks in a Home Visit
The first scenario involves a social worker witnessing a colleague make a potentially harmful and culturally insensitive comment about a client’s daughter, which visibly distresses the client. Ethically, social workers must foster respect and avoid actions that could harm clients, directly aligning with the NASW Code of Ethics standard on respecting the dignity and worth of the person (NASW, 2021). To address this, I would first ensure that the immediate interaction does not escalate tensions or cause further distress to Ms. C. I would gently intervene by redirecting the conversation to focus on Ms. C’s needs and concerns, demonstrating respect for her autonomy and emotional state.
Subsequently, I would speak privately with the colleague afterward, emphasizing the importance of maintaining professionalism and cultural sensitivity. I would remind the colleague of the importance of respecting clients’ dignity, avoiding judgments or assumptions about their family planning choices, and recognizing the impact of such remarks on client trust and engagement (Herlihy & Corey, 2015). If the colleague’s behavior reflects ongoing ethical concerns, I would escalate the issue to a supervisor or ethics committee, following agency protocols (Fischer, 2019). This approach aligns with the NASW’s advocacy for self-regulation and promoting ethical standards.
Furthermore, documenting the incident is essential, especially if the remarks could compromise client care or agency reputation (Skeem et al., 2019). Ultimately, my goal would be to foster an environment of respect, cultural competence, and ethical integrity, ensuring that clients feel valued and protected from judgmental attitudes that can impair service delivery.
Scenario 2: Ethical Response to Colleague’s Mocking of a Mental Health Consumer
The second scenario raises concerns about a colleague’s disrespectful behavior towards a client with serious mental health issues. This behavior, characterized by dismissive laughter and labeling, violates fundamental ethical principles, including respect for persons and integrity (NASW, 2021). The first step involves reflecting on my own response. Although instinct might be to confront immediately, it’s more effective to consider the appropriate channels for addressing such misconduct.
I would document what I heard, noting the date, time, and context, to ensure an accurate record. Next, I would privately speak with the colleague involved, expressing concern about their comments and emphasizing the importance of maintaining professionalism and empathy when working with clients (Herlihy & Corey, 2015). I would remind them that clients, regardless of their condition, deserve respectful treatment consistent with the ethical standards and the core values of social work.
If the colleague’s attitude does not change or if I feel the behavior jeopardizes client welfare, I would escalate the matter to supervisors or appropriate ethics committees within the organization. Engaging institutional accountability aligns with ethical guidelines for addressing misconduct (Fischer, 2019). Additionally, promoting a workplace culture that emphasizes professionalism and compassion is crucial for safeguarding client dignity.
Finally, as a future or current social worker, I recognize the importance of continual professional development, including ethics training, to navigate complex emotional responses and uphold ethical standards in challenging situations (Gibbs & Miller, 2020). Cultivating an environment of ethical awareness and accountability can protect clients and uphold the integrity of the profession.
Conclusion
Both scenarios highlight the importance of vigilance, respectful communication, and adherence to ethical principles in social work practice. Addressing these situations requires a combination of immediate, respectful intervention, professional dialogue, documentation, and organizational escalation as needed. Upholding the core values of social work ensures that clients receive respectful, competent, and ethical care, reinforcing trust and promoting social justice within the community.
References
- Fischer, J. (2019). Ethical decision-making in social work practice. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 16(2), 45–59.
- Gibbs, L. M., & Miller, J. L. (2020). Professional development and ethics in social work: Navigating complex dilemmas. Social Work Today, 20(3), 15–21.
- Herlihy, B., & Corey, G. (2015). Ethical decisions for social workers (4th ed.). NASW Press.
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (2021). Code of ethics. NASW Press.
- Skeem, J. L., Manchak, S., & Peterson, J. K. (2019). Correctional reform and ethical considerations in social work. Social Service Review, 93(2), 195–218.