Competency 1
DEMONSTRATE ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR
DEMONSTRATE ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR
Social workers understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards, as well as relevant laws and regulations that may impact practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Social workers understand frameworks of ethical decision-making and how to apply principles of critical thinking to those frameworks in practice, research, and policy arenas. Social workers recognize personal values and the distinction between personal and professional values. They also understand how their personal experiences and affective reactions influence their professional judgment and behavior. Social workers understand the profession's history, its mission, and the roles and responsibilities of the profession. Social Workers also understand the role of other professions when engaged in inter-professional teams. Social workers recognize the importance of life-long learning and are committed to continually updating their skills to ensure they are relevant and effective. Social workers also understand emerging forms of technology and the ethical use of technology in social work practice.
In order to highlight my demonstration of ethical and professional behaviors, the first artifact I selected is a paper from my capstone course: my Personal Ethical Decision Making Framework. This assignment allowed me to design a framework that I will personally use when presented with an ethical dilemma, whether it be in my personal or professional life. For my second artifact, I selected a journal I wrote for my field seminar, in which I reflected upon how I handle ethical situations at my field placement, as well as how I ensure that I am professional within my work there.
SW 495: Personal Ethical Decision Making Framework
For this assignemnt, I had to pick two existing ethical decision making frameworks, and critically analyze them: how were they similar and different, what steps did I value or agree with, or which did I think were not as important or necessary. Upon comparing and contrasting the two established frameworks, I then had to design my own 7-10 step process that I would use to make decisions and soltuons if and when I was presented with an ethical dilemma in my practice. I actually enjoyed this assignment because ethics is an area of social work I have struggled with previously, in terms of balancing my own personal values and beliefs with those held by the profession. While the majority of my personal ethics do align with those of the social work profession, there are times when these values are conflicting, such is an ethical dilemma. This assignment helped me to better understand the decision making process when a problem arises, and I feel as though I have a better grasp of how to appropriately and ethically arrive at a solution that yields the best possible outcomes when presented with an ethical dilemma.
SW 492: Journal 3
In addition to my field placement, I also have a field seminar course that meets every other week to talk about our internships; what is going well, what isn't, what new experiences have been had and so on. It is a safe space to talk with other students, and is facilitated by our field liaison. Before each seminar, we prepare a journal, where we reflect on a prompt and then relate our writing to one of the 9 competencies. For this journal, the prompt entailed ambiguities, and how we handle them at our internships. I chose to reflect on the ethical protocols I take when working with clients without the guide of a supervisor or coworker. I mentioned how if I am in an ambiguous situation where I cannot turn to a supervisor, I always keep in mind the NASW Code of Ethics, as well as abide by the values of Samaritas, and finally must use my own ethics and judgement to make an appropriate decision. I related this journal entry to Competency 1, as it worked through how I apply what I have learned in the BSW curriculum to make ethical decisions as well as maintain professional behaviors in real life situations at my internship.Â
Throughout my courses in the BSW program, I have often found that ethics was an area that I found difficult to navigate. It is intimidating to think that in my future practice as a social worker, I will run into ethical dilemmas where I have to make careful, calculated decisions, as there are many factors and consequences that could impact both myself, my institution, as well my client and potentially their personal relationships. However, although I will be presented with difficult situations where I must compromise values to make difficult decisions, I feel as though what I have learned through the BSW curriculum, and the experiences I have had at my internship, have equipped me with the tools and frameworks to work through ethical dilemmas.