Code of Practice
and
Ethical Dilemmas
T.Y. LEE, Fieldwork Coordinator BSW
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The Code of Practice for Registered Social Workers in Hong Kong
Prepared by
The
Hong Kong Social Workers Registration Board
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T.Y. LEE
The Code of Practice
an operational statement of the central values of the social work profession. Social work students should be
is
thoroughly familiar with it.
Represents
standards of ethical behavior for social workers.
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Contents of the Code of Practice 1. Basic values and beliefs 2. Principles of practice
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Principles of Practice
Personal
Clients
Conduct
Colleagues
Agency
Profession
Society
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Violation of the Code of Practice
may
lead to failure in fieldwork assessment a placement student breaches the Code,
if
evidence for the malpractice is upheld, his/her fieldwork will be given a
when
failure or zero mark
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What is an ethical dilemma? It is a Conflict between ...
ones personal and professional values two values/ethical principles two possible actions each with reasons strongly favorable and unfavorable two unsatisfactory alternatives ones values/principles and ones perceived role
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the need to act and the need to reflect
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Can ethical dilemma be avoided?
You
can avoid ethical
cannot completely
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dilemmas! But...
You
avoid ethical dilemmas!
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You can avoid ethical dilemmas! An Example
Your placement is in a school, you should give prior thought to how you would respond when a child reveals abuse or neglect. Find out how your field instructor wants you to handle these situations. What information does the school expect you will share with concerned teachers? The principal?
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You cannot completely avoid ethical dilemmas!
It
is best to prepare yourself for them
examining your own values from time to time
by
learning all you can about: how past ethical problems in your placement settings were resolved.
and
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What are the behaviors that will almost always be viewed as
unethical?
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Sexual intimacy with clients
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Libeling or slandering a client
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Sharing confidences without compelling professional reasons
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Assaulting, causing physical injuries, or placing clients in danger
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Discriminatory practices
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Withdrawing services precipitously (abandoning a client)
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Failure to warn and protect the victim of a violent crime
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Failure to exercise reasonable precautions with a potentially suicidal client
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Promising cures for problems
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How do I avoid rushing into ethical dilemmas?
Develop
a working knowledge of the Code of Practice
(by necessity they cannot be specific to every possible ethics violation)
By
anticipating likely trouble spots before they occur.
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How do I dilemmas?
resolve
ethical
The first step is recognizing the problem and identifying the source of the conflict. You also must keep all parties informed of your legal and ethical obligations. Engage clients or involved parties in
dialogue, and brainstorm the best
course of action.
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Make sure you are constantly keeping in mind the mission of the profession and
observing the clients right to self-
determination.
If you are still unclear about what to do, discuss
the situation with your field
instructor.
Protect the identity of the client if necessary, and present the situation as a hypothetical case if you need external help.
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The priority ranking of ethical principles (Lowenberg and Dolgoff ,1992) An
approach for ordering social work values that might help you get off the horns of a dilemma. Protection of life
Equality Autonomy and freedom Least harm Quality of life Privacy and confidentiality Truthfulness and full disclosure
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How do I know whether I am doing the right thing?
It is not always possible to know,
but there is a greater chance that we can feel good about the decision we have to make if we go through a deliberate process where
we examine our values, seek additional information, and
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consult
others.
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A Decision-Making Model: 5 Steps (M.V. Joseph, 1983)
1.
definition of the dilemma,
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A Decision-Making Model: 5 Steps (M.V. Joseph, 1983).
looking
at all the
relevant facts and developing valid arguments for various courses of action,
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A Decision-Making Model: 5 Steps (M.V. Joseph, 1983)
3.
consideration of practice wisdom, personal beliefs and values, and how these might influence the final decision,
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A Decision-Making Model: 5 Steps (M.V. Joseph, 1983)
4.
developing options, exploring compromises, evaluating alternatives in an attempt to find a course of action with
the least negative effects, and
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A Decision-Making Model: 5 Steps (M.V. Joseph, 1983)
5.
choosing a
position
that you can
defend.
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The End
Read the Code of Practice and keep a copy while you practice
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