SWP21 PPH PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: HISTORY AND VALUES

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• SWP21 PPH -PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE HISTORY AND
  VALUES
• Lectures 1112

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Professional Values and Ethical Practice

• We will explore the value and ethical base of
  social work and some of the ethical dilemmas that
  will confront social workers as they help others.
  As we are working with the most disadvantaged
  groups in society, social workers have to be
  careful not to exploit or further oppress them.
  (Thompson, 2000).

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• So values and ethics of the human service
  profession must govern in every aspect of
  practice, each decision, and every action you
  undertake as a professional. As such it
  supersedes theoretical knowledge, research
  findings, practice wisdom and of course your own
  values

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What is being covered

• What are values
• Professional values
• Ethical foundations from a philosophical and
  professional base
• Be more aware of own values through critical
  reflection and asking questions such as
• Is this the right decision? Can a better choice
  be made? Is there another way of looking at this?

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So what is a value?

• It is simply something what we hold dear or
  something that we safeguard or seen as important
  or having worth (Thompson, 2000)
• Unlike knowledge, values express what ought to
  be, not what is

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• SHARDLOW SAYS THAT COMING TO GRIPS WITH VALUES
  AND ETHICS IS LIKE PICKING UP A LARGE, SLIPPERY
  FISH-JUST AS YOU THINK THAT YOU HAVE CAUGHT IT,
  IT SWIMS AWAY

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The Challenge about Values

• There are 3 reasons why value awareness is
  difficult
• Values are so engrained in our thought processes
  that we are often not consciously aware of them
  so we cannot recognise their influence on our
  decisions.
• Talking about values in the abstract can be very
  different to handling them in real life
• Values are dynamic. Our priorities about values
  can change over time

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Social Workers hold onto the following values

• The environment should provide the opportunity
  and resources for the maximum realisation common
  human needs and for the alleviation of distress
  and suffering
• Individuals should contribute as effectively as
  they can to their own well-being and to the
  social welfare of the potential and aspirations
  of all individuals,
• Transactions between individuals and others in
  their environment should enhance the dignity,
  individuality and self determination of everyone.

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• A narrow focus- social workers behaviour with
  clients
• A mid-range description-the role and function of
  s.w. in society
• A broad definition which may include the
  construction of s.w. as an activity.
  (Shardow)

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Values

• Individualism- Uniqueness of each person
• Purposeful expression of purpose- freedom of
  client to express themselves without fear of
  condemnation
• Controlled emotional involvement- workers
  sensitivity to client feeling and response
• Acceptance- dignity and self worth
• Non-judgemental
• Self determination- rights of clients
• Confidentiality
• Biestek
• -

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What are Ethics?

• Ethics are essentially practical rules or
  principles. However, ethical claims are
  contestable and debatable
• Ethical theory is a way of applying moral
  philosophy to contemporary situations.

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ETHICS

• Values are translated into ethics to assist us in
  making difficult choices
• In general, Ethics is concerned about what is
  fair, right, just or good about what we ought to
  do, not just about what is the case or what ought
  to be acceptable or expedient
• Unlike knowledge, values express what ought to
  be, not what is.