Chapter 5 Social Work Flashcards
Process of Ethical Decision making
- to deal with ethical issues condor the following 5 step process.
- Identity the key ethical issues in the situation
- the relevant ethical guidelines within your province’s social work code of ethics or any employer-based ethical guidelines must be identified.
- identify which ethical principles are of major importance in this particular situation and which are not.
- You should acknowledge and examine you own emotions and values.
- this is where virtue-based ethical decision-making may be helpful.
- virtue ethics take the stance that social workers are motivated to be virtuous and caring because they believe it is the right thing to do.
- using this approach, there is no step-by-step method but the following five questions may be help in ethical decision making
- What are my feelings an intuition telling me to do ?
- How can my values inform my decision? Will they hinder or help?
- How will other people be affect by my decision?
- How would i feel if this decision was made public?
- What decision would be define who i am as a person?
- this is where virtue-based ethical decision-making may be helpful.
- The social worker determines a concrete action plan that will be most helpful in the situation.
What are the various roles that social workers may take on in the course of their work?
- Health and Social Services: job settings in this are include family and child welfare agencies, hospitals and other health care facilities, group homes and hostels, addiction treatment facilities, and Social Assistance offices
- Government Services: a large number of social workers work directly for some level of government, although this setting is decking as more and more services are devolved to community agencies. these services include planning and administration of programs, correctional facilities, and the justice system.
- Communities: Community organizers work out of community health centres, resource centres, and other grassroots organizations and provide counselling and support to local communities
- Research: the federal, provincial, and local governments frequently call upon social workers to conduct surveys and carry out research that affects social work practice in various settings.
- Self-employment: a small but growing number of social workers are self-employed, offering searches directly to the public for fees or contracting their services to large organizations.
What challenges do social workers in Canada face, and how will these challenges affect social workers and social work practice?
Funding Cutbacks, Demographics, Immigration and multiculturalism, Globalization, Privatization, Technology, Interdisciplinary Practice, Evidence-base practice. The next period will be expected to do more with less funding, result in increased caseloads and higher levels of work-related stress. (less may go into the profession).
What is the purpose of the code of ethics?
Guidelines to help guide social workers in the course of their work.
What are the main associations to which Canadian Social Workers belong?
The profession of social work in Canada is regulated by ten provincial associations and one territorial organization , each with its own name and relations. The associations come together under the umbrella of the CASW which provides national leadership in strengthening and advancing the social work profession.
Public Sector Unions
Today, most Canadian social workers are members these. The associations represent social workers in issues pertaining to the development of the profession, the education of their members, and i discussions of social issues and social policy. These unions represent them in areas of pay or working conditions.
Ambiguity of Social Work
refers to the fact that social workers frequently have to balance urgent and practical intervention measures with more difficult ethical and sometimes “political” questions. Many think that the present delivery of social workers are ideal–that their relationship with their client will ultimately be government by the concern for their clients best interest. However, the practical side of it is that social workers are inevitably confronted with situations in which the policy and regulations of the agency conflict with what they, as experienced social workers, see as being in the best interests of their client. Balancing one’s beliefs, professional standards, and agency rules can be difficult. In this context, the social workers place of employment can be either a source of empowerment or a source of distress.
Involuntary Clients
Those who are legally obligated to accept services, such as prisoners on parole or children in care.
Voluntary clients
People who have chose to seek the services provided
What are the 3 broad types of principles according to C.S Levy that the Code of Ethics is based?
(1 )Normative standards identify what the expected stander should be . (2) Aspirational ethics identify the principles that professionals should attempt to reach.(3) Prescriptive ethics refer to behaviours to which professionals are held accountable to uphold.
Guidelines for Ethical Practice
are a companion document to the Code of Ethics, providing guidance on ethical practice by applying the values and principles in the Code to common areas of social work practice.
The six core values of the Code of Ethics, 2005
(1) Respect for Inherent Dignity and Worth of Persons (2) Pursuit of Social Justice (3) Service to Humanity (4) Integrity of Professional Practice (5) Confidentiality in Professional Practice (6) Competence in Professional Practice
Code of Ethics, 2005
The CASW Code of Ethics lays out a set of six guiding principles that form the basis of ethical practice. It does not prescribe how social workers should act, but provides guidance that can be used to formulate specific standards.
Community Access Centre
An example of an ISD. It is a place to get program information and services, fill out application, and ask questions. In such centres, individuals can assess more than one service, which is then delivered by a serve delivery team following carefully worked-out service plan.
Integrated Service Delivery (ISD)
The ISD model recognizes that individuals or families coming to an agency for help often have a variety of needs. It is therefore important that program coordination effectible so that all needs are met. Social works (key role) act as car mangers and services planners and provide direct services to those members of the community who are in need. (i.e. Community Access Centre)
International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW)
Is an association of educators and institutions involved in social work education worldwide. It helps to promote social work education, facilitate mutual exchanges, and represent social work educators at the international level.
International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)
Is a successor to the International Permanent Secretariat of Social Workers. Its goal becoming an international organization of professional social workers. promotes social work as a profession, links social workers from around the world,and promotes the participation of social works in social police and planning at the national and international levels (represents half a million SWer’s in 55 different countries).
What is the purpose of CASWE?
The purpose is to advance the standards, effectiveness, and relevance of social work for education and scholarship in Canada and, through participation in international associations, in other countries
Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE)
Is a nation association of university faculties, schools, and departments offering professional education in social work at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels.
Responsible for reviewing and approving social work education programs.
What is the main benefit of CASW
Belonging to CASW is being part of a group of like-minded people who share the same goals and who work together to improve their profession.
What does the CASW have jurisdiction over?
Assesses foreign social work credentials to evaluate equivalency with Canadian standard (Quebec and BC have separate provincial evaluations). Also supplies members with relevant professional documents, a national journal, activities and evens, access to benefits, representation nationally and internationally, and an opportunity to participate in professional development panels and organizations. Also influences governments through consultations, position statements, and the presentation of briefs.
Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW)
Is a national professional organization of social workers (founded in 1926). Initially it started with 60 workers and others joined. Today it is a federated organization with member organizations across the country. It has jurisdiction over some issues, while the provincial associations maintain over others.
How are the employment patterns of social workers changing and what are the implications for social workers?
Te growth in the number of social workers reflects the expansion of social services and income security programs over this period. Particularly in the 1960s when significant new money was put into child welfare and income . As importance of social welfare programs increased a higher level of organization and great degree of professionalization were required, therefore increasing demands for social services to help train and organize social workers at the local level.
