Registered social workers in New Zealand also have to abide by the Code of Conduct, which outlines the professional standards of behaviour, conduct and integrity that registered social workers must apply in their practice and professional career (Social Work Registration Board, 2016). The Code of Conduct is also based on the Social Work Registration Act that was established in 2003 (New Zealand Legislation, 2017 & SWRB, 2016). Registered social workers are expected to act with integrity, honesty and ethically to everyone around them, whether it is personal or professional (SWRB, 2016). There are a lot of principles and standards that social workers must abide by, such as that the Code of Conduct also requires social workers to be reliable, …show more content…
Law is different from morality, as morality may or may not correspond, coincide or fit with legal rules (Laird, 2010). An example would be the legalization of abortion in some countries, such as the Abortion Act that was established in 1967 in the United Kingdom. People may think abortion is immoral but they still need to abide with the law (Laird, 2010). According to Albert (1986, as cited in Phiri, 2017), the law is the starting point, the beginning and the ending of actions. Despite the challenges mentioned above, social workers in this field also have its potentials. These legislative frameworks also protect social workers from harm. Social workers will engage with different types of people and emotions, such as highly emotional, vulnerable and aggressive people in their work, especially in the domestic violence field (Anand et al., 2007). Although there are a lot requirements and standards that social workers need to meet in regards to legislation, these laws are also present to protect not only the clients but also the safety of social workers (SWRB, 2016, New Zealand Legislation, 2017). Legislation also acknowledges that social work is a profession that influences and affects the public, safety, welfare and health (Monahan, 2016). Legislation protects the title and practice of social work, as it requires only those who are qualified to engage and be in the practice (Monahan, 2016). Working within these legislative frameworks may seem quite overwhelming, but these laws and legislation are established in order to protect everyone in the community and society in general. Social workers in the family domestic violence field are provided with limited opportunities to progress in their career in that field and also in other fields, as often people perceive social workers as having lower status and power than professions such as
WHITE, R., BROADBENT, G. and BROWN, K., 2009. Law and the social work practitioner: a manual for practice. Exeter England]: Learning Matters.
More than two dozen studies have already reported violence occurring to social workers in their work place. National rates shows 65% to 86% of social workers have faced violence by clients during their career, and 47% of social workers have concerns for their safety. Every type of violence except direct physical assault is included in this study. Violence was labeled as intentional property damage, threats, verbal abuse, and physical harm whether attempted or actual. In addition threats of lawsuits against social workers by clients past or present is included as they can cause immense stress. The hypotheses used a work stress theory of the effects of client violence toward social workers and the relationship between experiencing violence, fear of futu...
The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Code of Ethics (2010) proposes three core values of Social Work, respect for persons, social justice and professional integrity (pp.12). These core values establish “ethical responsibilities” for the social worker (AASW, 2010, pp.12), specifically, the value of respect for persons, which sustains the intrinsic worth of all human beings as well as the right to wellbeing and self determination consistent with others in society (AASW, 2010,p.12). This Code of Ethics stipulates the duty of care a social worker must provide, a...
Social work and the law looks at the interface between the practice of social work and the legal system that includes statutory law, case law and legal institutions. Law is central for social work practice in that many social work clients will inevitably be involved in legal systems such as child protection. As social workers, it’s important to be aware of the laws and regulations relevant to the client in order to be able to effectively provide support and advice.
The Code of Ethics is an important part of a Social Workers career, by giving them basic guidelines, principles, standards, and values/morals for which they should follow. By following these guidelines a Social Worker can keep their work at a professional level and learn to keep work out of a personal level. This Code of Ethics has been set forth by the National Association of Social Workers, and is mandated in the field of practice (NASW, 2008).
First I will reflect on the differences between moral and values and how it impacts human rights. Morals and values differ for each individual and in the social work field one may find in most cases that their beliefs conflict with their clients. As a professional that individual must understand that their client has the right to share their own views and morals
Social Work is a profession that is committed to the promotion, restoration, maintenance, and enhancement of social functioning. Its focus is to work with individuals, groups, and communities, in helping them use the resources within themselves and the environment to cope more effectively with their problems. At its most basic level, social work is about promoting the general welfare of society by representing those who are most vulnerable. Providing social services can sometimes be a difficult task, wrought with ethical uncertainties and challenges. The Social Work Code of Ethics helps social workers navigate these challenges throughout their careers and provides a framework for the principles and standards a social worker must uphold.
Social work practice is a profession where it works alongside the ‘code of ethics’, which consists of formal statements which represent values of the professional community. National associations such as Britain state the core values within this field are human dignity and worth, social justice, service to humanity (human rights), integrity and competence. The professional field is regulated by the British Association of Social Work (BASW). The core values within social work are human rights, human dignity and social justice.... ...
Social work is a multifaceted, ever adapting profession, which has had many purposes and identities through the years. It is imperative for the vocation to constantly evolve alongside the social climate and the new ways in which we identify and treat those who are in need of support. Social workers can be required to take on the role of counsellor, advocate, case-worker, partner, assessor of risk and need, and at times (as the government seeks to push social work further and further towards the health and education sectors) a servant of the state. The profession is dramatically subject to affection by societal change, thus demanding social workers have a duty to be up to date with the latest developments in understanding how and why people get to the point of requiring social work intervention, and how best to prevent and cater for it.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has a historical mission of enhancing individual well-being, empowering all people with a focus on the oppressed and vulnerable while addressing environmental problems in living. Social workers strive for social justice, social change, service, the importance of human relations, integrity and competence. Social workers have a mandatory code of ethics provided by NASW in order to not violate any client and to fulfill the social work mission (NASW Delegate Assembly, 2008).
The social work profession and its Code of Ethics dictate that social workers must act in the best interest of the client, even when those actions challenge the practitioner’s personal, cultural and religious values. In practice; however, ethical decision-making is more complex than in theory. As helping professionals, social workers are constantly faced with ethical decision-making or ethical dilemmas. As noted by Banks (2005), an ethical dilemma occurs “when a worker is faced with a choice between two equally unwelcome alternatives that may involve a conflict of moral principles, and it is not clear what choice will be the right one” (as cited in McAuliffe & Chenoweth, 2008, p. 43). In addition, ethical decision-making is a process that
“Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner. Social workers are to be aware of this profession missions, values ethical principal and ethical standards and practice in a manner consistent with them”. (NASW, 2008, p.6). Social workers are to be sure their practice is embedded in the NASW Code of Ethics.
The work of a social worker is complex and all encompassing. Social workers work in many capacities seeking justice, liberation, and equality. There work is global, as they work to put policies in place to govern practices. To keep up with societal shifts and generational changes there learning is continuous. As new questions rise so does the need for the continuation of research, not only to answer these questions but to implement into
The social work profession is defined as “a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people (ISFW, ‘Global Definition of Social Work’, 2016).” The definition may be true about the profession but it is more in depth than just that. To me, the profession’s primary focus is to help others through life as much as we can while letting them make their own choices and guiding them. In society, social workers are utilized in many different nonprofit and government roles. They serve the community in many different ways from monitoring parent visits to helping people through mental illnesses. Human beings are so complex and things that happen
Social problems, including delinquency, disability, unemployment, palliative care, social disadvantages, such as gender, poverty race sexual orientation and the range of collective social responses to these conditions. Social care workers strive to support, protect, guide and advocate on behalf of clients. Social Polices affect these clients in a number of ways. They determine the types of social services that exist, the way they are run, and the access of individuals and communities to services and benefits. The advocacy of social workers is important in influencing the policies of organizations, local authorities and services. (Hepworth and Larson,