Ethical Values in Social Work
Social work values and ethical dilemmas
What are values, ethics, ethical dilemmas and a code of ethics?
Values relate to principles and attitudes that provide direction to everyday living. Values also refer to beliefs or standards considered desirable by a culture, group or individual (AASW). Similar to values, but slightly different, ethics means a system of beliefs held about what constitutes moral judgement and right conduct, they are moral principles (rules, guides) (AASW). So an ethical dilemma is then when a person is faced with a choice between two equally conflicting moral principles and it is not clear cut which choice will be the right one (AASW). Finally, ‘a code of ethics’ is an explicit statement of the values, principles and rules of a profession, which acts as a guide for its members and their practice (AASW).
Summary of the AASW Code of Ethics
The Code of Ethics of the AASW expresses the values/principles of the profession. By having values/principles that guides our practice, this assists our work, and helps us to act in ethical ways. So values/principles provide a guide and standard for ethical practice in social work.
There are five values that inform social work practice, which have underlying principles: • Human dignity and worth (each person has the right to well being, self fulfilment and self determination, consistent with the rights of others) • Social justice (basic human needs, equitable distribution of resources to meet needs, fair access to public resources, individual/community rights, equal treatment and protection under the law, social development) • Service to humanity (to meet personal and social needs and enable people to develop their potential) • Integrity (values honesty, reliability and impartiality in practice) • Competence (proficiency in practice)
There are ethical behaviours which are expected of social workers.
Given the complexity of issues that social workers deal with in a
What are values, ethics, ethical dilemmas and a code of ethics?
Values relate to principles and attitudes that provide direction to everyday living. Values also refer to beliefs or standards considered desirable by a culture, group or individual (AASW). Similar to values, but slightly different, ethics means a system of beliefs held about what constitutes moral judgement and right conduct, they are moral principles (rules, guides) (AASW). So an ethical dilemma is then when a person is faced with a choice between two equally conflicting moral principles and it is not clear cut which choice will be the right one (AASW). Finally, ‘a code of ethics’ is an explicit statement of the values, principles and rules of a profession, which acts as a guide for its members and their practice (AASW).
Summary of the AASW Code of Ethics
The Code of Ethics of the AASW expresses the values/principles of the profession. By having values/principles that guides our practice, this assists our work, and helps us to act in ethical ways. So values/principles provide a guide and standard for ethical practice in social work.
There are five values that inform social work practice, which have underlying principles: • Human dignity and worth (each person has the right to well being, self fulfilment and self determination, consistent with the rights of others) • Social justice (basic human needs, equitable distribution of resources to meet needs, fair access to public resources, individual/community rights, equal treatment and protection under the law, social development) • Service to humanity (to meet personal and social needs and enable people to develop their potential) • Integrity (values honesty, reliability and impartiality in practice) • Competence (proficiency in practice)
There are ethical behaviours which are expected of social workers.
Given the complexity of issues that social workers deal with in a