Module 4 Flashcards
Professional practice and ethical standards
Why a code of ethics?
As human service and social work began to be considered a profession, discussions began about the need to define what it is they do, what constitutes best practice and how a practitioner in these professions must behave.
Most professions develop their own code of ethics and practice standards, which seek to formalise what acceptable practice entails for that discipline.
It’s often stated that codes of ethics serve both ‘care and control’ functions. By this we mean that codes of ethics really exist to enable professional disciplines to carry out their service and duties to the public and to also manage issues around accountability for practice.
Overall, codes of ethics and practice standards strengthen our professional identity and provide us with a way of reminding ourselves of the value base of our disciplines.
What is in a code of ethics?
- Statements about the core purpose or service ideal of the profession
- Statements about the character/attributes of the professional
- Ethical principles
- Principles of professional practice
The AASW
founded in the 1940s. The AASW currently has around 12000 members who have voluntarily joined. The structure of the AASW includes a board of directors with state and territory branches as well as national committees for ethics, social policy, registration, education, international qualifications and continuing professional education.
Social work in Australia does not have statutory regulation and this issue continues to be one that the AASW is pursuing. The current system is known as self-regulation, which means that only AASW members can be investigated for ethical breaches. If they are found to have been involved in a serious breach of the code of ethics, they may become ineligible for membership of the AASW. This is very serious as many jobs require workers to be eligible for AASW membership in order to apply. As membership is voluntary, if a social worker who is not a member of the AASW is complained about, unless they have broken the law, there is not much that can be done.
Why should social work be a registered profession?
If social work was to become a registered profession in Australia, then it would no longer be self-regulated and all social workers who were complained about would likely be investigated. This is generally seen as a desirable situation as it should mean that clients have more power to receive justice for any wrong doing on the part of a social worker. Additionally, those in favour of registration argue that it would increase the status of social workers and our professional identity would be enhanced as a result.
The arguments for why it shouldn’t be registered?
The case against registration centres on the idea that social work should remain unfettered by government and that there are already legal avenues for clients to complain should they wish to. These legal avenues include the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman and Privacy Commissions and Anti-Discrimination Commissions as well as the legal system.
Functions of Ethical Codes
- Protection of clients or service users
- Guidance to practitioners
- Enhancement of professional status
- Creating and maintaining professional identity
- Professional regulation
Complexities of ethical codes
- Can lack clarity and precision
- Designed to protect workers more than clients
- Conflicts emerge within and between codes
- Reactive rather than proactive
- Need to be adapted to different cultures
- May not be a professional consensus regarding what
constitutes ethical conduct
The international context
- International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW):
- formed in 1928
- represents over 3 million social workers from 178
member countries - promotion of social work for social development
- global definition of social work
- statement of ethical principles and general
guidelines for professional conduct
AASW Practice Standards 2023
- Code of ethics
- Working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples - Human rights and social justice
- Culture, identity and intersectionality
- Critical thinking in practice
- Exercising professional judgement
- Professional identity
- Professional supervision
- Professional growth
E-professionalism
- Online professional persona – privacy issues, risk to
professional reputation if information is not safeguarded - Opportunities for advocacy, employment and training,
disseminating information - Remote service delivery – e-therapy, cyber-groups, web-based interventions
- Knowledge for the digital age. Practitioners must understand implications, ensure security and privacy of information (how it is sourced, shared and stored)
- Online professional persona – privacy issues, risk to
professional reputation if information is not safeguarded - Opportunities for advocacy, employment and training,
disseminating information - Remote service delivery – e-therapy, cyber-groups, web-based interventions
- Knowledge for the digital age. Practitioners must understand implications, ensure security and privacy of information (how it is sourced, shared and stored)
AASW: Respect for persons
every person has a unique and inherent equal worth and has a right to wellbeing, self-fulfillment, and self-determination, consistent with the rights and cultures of others, and a sustainable environment
AASW: Social justice
The AASW holds that social justice is a core principle that its members are obligated to promote and uphold for society in general and for the people with whom they work
AASW: Professional integrity
Practitioners should be guided by principles of honesty, trustworthiness and good character in all aspects of professional conduct.
