What Are Professional Values In Social Work

Social work is the practice in which the practitioner works with clients in order to resolve and prevent problems that occur with individuals and group (Walsh, 2010). There are many different characteristics that a social work should obtain to be successful. These characteristics define social workers and also helps social workers to provide the best possible care.

Values are one characteristic that social workers should strive to have. Values are what is right and good (Walsh, 2010). When talking about values, there are many different kinds of values to consider. For example, one can have personal values, societal values, and professional values (Walsh, 2010). Personal values would be what reflects ones beliefs as to what one thinks is right and good (Walsh, 2010). Societal values is what society deems and right and good (Walsh, 2010). Professional values is what is the ethics that guides one’s profession (Walsh, 2010). While all of these values are almost the same they are different from each other. Ethics and values are commonly confused. Ethics refer to what is right and correct.

As a social worker one needs to commitment themselves to working with people from diverse backgrounds and with the underserved population. Multiculturalism refers a social workers ability to work with people from many different cultures. A social worker also needs to understand these different cultures so that they can effectively treat the client (Walsh,2010). When a social worker is working with a client of a diverse background the social workers needs to understanding of the clients background and also have cultural sensitivity. The social worker should be aware of the cultural differences and not see the differences as positive or