Reflection Focused On Professional Behavior In Your Designat

750 1000reflection Focused On Professional Behavior In Your Designate

Reflect on professional behavior within your designated service-learning agency, the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services - CVS. Discuss two social work ethical principles from the NASW Code of Ethics that resonate with you in this setting. Identify at least two ways in which the NASW Code of Ethics may conflict with your personal values. Describe two potential ethical dilemmas you might encounter at your agency and propose how you would address them. Additionally, analyze how your responses to these dilemmas would be influenced by a Christian worldview. Support your discussion with three to five scholarly sources, ensuring they are from the GCU Library or provided course resources. Follow APA Style guidelines as outlined in the Student Success Center.

Paper For Above instruction

Engaging in service within the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services (DFPS), specifically through CVS, exposes social workers to complex ethical landscapes governed by the NASW Code of Ethics. This code serves as a foundational guide to ensure ethical and professional conduct in social work practice. Reflecting on this context, it is essential to identify principles from the NASW Code that align with personal values, recognize potential conflicts, and prepare for ethical dilemmas with ethical and spiritual discernment.

Aligning with Social Work Ethical Principles

Two core principles from the NASW Code of Ethics that resonate profoundly in my work at DFPS are the commitment to client's self-determination and the importance of social justice. The principle of self-determination emphasizes empowering clients to make their own informed decisions, which aligns with my personal belief in respecting individual autonomy and fostering independence. Supporting clients in understanding their options and advocating for their rights aim to promote dignity and respect (NASW, 2021).

Similarly, the principle of social justice underscores the need to challenge social inequalities and ensure fair treatment regardless of background. This aligns with my core value of justice and equity, motivating me to work diligently towards equitable access to resources, protection, and opportunities for vulnerable populations served by DFPS (Reamer, 2006). These principles guide my professional conduct to prioritize client welfare and societal fairness.

Potential Conflicts with Personal Values

Nevertheless, conflicts may arise between the NASW Code and personal values. Firstly, the NASW emphasizes client self-determination, which may sometimes conflict with my personal inclination to exert a protective or paternalistic approach in ensuring client safety, especially in cases involving minors or individuals unable to make fully informed decisions. For instance, balancing respect for autonomy with protective interventions can pose dilemmas.

Secondly, the code’s stance on social justice may conflict with my personal perspectives on systemic issues or policies. For example, policies that restrict services or funding based on political or moral considerations may challenge my belief in universal access and equitable treatment. Reconciling my personal conviction with agency policies or societal constraints requires careful ethical reasoning.

Ethical Dilemmas and Response Strategies

One ethical dilemma involves confidentiality versus safety concerns. Suppose a foster child's disclosure of imminent harm by a caregiver threatens confidentiality. Navigating whether to uphold confidentiality or breach it to prevent harm demands ethical judgment balancing the child’s rights and safety obligations (NASW, 2021).

Another dilemma revolves around resource allocation—prioritizing services when demand exceeds capacity. Deciding how to fairly distribute limited resources among clients can lead to moral distress, weighing the needs of diverse clients while adhering to fairness principles.

To address these dilemmas, I would employ the NASW's ethical decision-making framework, considering the code’s standards, consulting colleagues, and reflecting on my personal values. In the confidentiality case, protecting the child's safety would supersede confidentiality, consistent with the obligation to prevent harm (Reamer, 2003). Regarding resource allocation, transparent criteria and advocacy for systemic change could guide fair distribution (Ferguson & Wood, 2017).

Christian Worldview and Ethical Decision-Making

My Christian worldview profoundly influences my ethical approach. The biblical mandate to love one’s neighbor (Mark 12:31) compels me to prioritize compassion, justice, and care for marginalized individuals, aligning with social work values. When facing ethical dilemmas, prayer and spiritual discernment can provide clarity and peace, guiding me to act in ways that embody Christ’s love and justice.

For instance, in situations requiring a breach of confidentiality to protect a child, Christian compassion underscores the importance of acting in the child's best interest, trusting that love and justice will guide the outcome. Similarly, advocating for equitable resource distribution becomes an act rooted in biblical principles of fairness and caring for the vulnerable (Micah 6:8).

In sum, integrating the NASW Code of Ethics with my Christian worldview enriches my ethical reasoning, helping me navigate dilemmas with compassion, justice, and integrity. This alignment ensures that my professional conduct not only adheres to social work standards but also reflects my spiritual convictions, fostering holistic and ethically sound practice.

References

• Ferguson, I., & Wood, C. (2017). Social Work and Human Rights: A Foundation for Policy and Practice. British Journal of Social Work, 47(4), 97–113.
• National Association of Social Workers. (2021). Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. NASW.
• Reamer, F. G. (2003). Ethical Standards in Social Work: A Review of the NASW Code of Ethics. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 73(2), 211-230.
• Reamer, F. G. (2006). The Social Work Ethics Audit: A Promising Self-Assessment Tool. Social Work, 51(2), 129-137.
• Micah 6:8. (n.d.). Bible Gateway. Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+6%3A8