Cultural Values that Influence Social Work - Term Paper Example

«Cultural Values that Influence Social work» Introduction As described by Norman (1999, p 2), ‘As human beings, we all have our own values, beliefs and attitudes that we have developed throughout the course of our lives.’ Regarding social work, diversity and different beliefs and values greatly determine the efficiency of the social worker in implementation of laid out strategies and achievement of goals. The differences might be brought about by differences in the environmental and biological or genetic factors. With respect to the environment, being raised or growing up in harsh or carefree environment may directly or indirectly influence the habits and behavior that an individual may assimilate or clone hence would in turn predispose them to certain social problems and challenges (Norman, 1999, p 4). In addition, a person’s biological or genetic composition might also influence his behavior hence resulting to other social problems or challenges. As described by James (2003, p 21), ‘as community services workers, we are to provide a service that meets the needs of our target groups and helps them to feel empowered, we need to be aware of our own personal values, beliefs and attitudes and be prepared to adopt the professional values of our industry and not impose our own ideas on our clients’. It is evident that values can influence many of the judgments we make as well as have a great impact on the support we give clients. The following paper will describe the personal beliefs that help me in critical and professional analysis of clients and the overall understanding of the social work practice. Social Work Question One: Personal Values and Beliefs That Guide Social Work Social work is a human profession that promotes social changes, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being (Norman, 1999, p 42). Values that are held dear by the social work profession and the communities generally are the pillars of social work practice. As described by Cox, Campbell and Fulford (2006, p 5), ‘Values are principles, standards or qualities that an individual or group of people hold in high regard or something that we hold dear, those things or qualities which we consider to be of worth, while Beliefs come from real experiences.’ This is further affirmed by Furness and Gilligan (2010, p 4) who explain that ‘A value is commonly formed by a particular belief that is related to the worth of an idea or type of behavior.’ For efficiency and professionalism to be realized in social work practice, personal values and beliefs that might rather negatively influence the work of a social practitioner should be avoided or minimized. As a social worker I believe that a persons’ behavior which might in turn influence the problems and challenges that a person might face are greatly influenced by the environmental conditions that are around him. My understanding of different environments may explain why some people behave the way they do. For example people who suffer violent tendencies might be facing this problem due to harsh and violent environments where they either hail from or dwell (James, 2003, p 85). As a social worker I value commitment to the primary importance of an individual in a certain community. This would ensure that I fully understand the kind of expectations that are yearned for by the community. This would also ensure that I fully know what kind of advice to offer to the people. On the base line, I believe that diversity is unity where no particular kinds of people are more deserving than the other. Also I value commitment to social justice, economic and the mind well being of the community. This would ensure that I adequately evaluate the economic and social well being of the whole community regardless of the existing environment. This would in turn ensure that I provided non-biased advice to the community. In addition, I also value the commitment to social change that would rather ensure that the recognizable needs are adequately and timely dealt with. As described by Furness and Gilligan (2010, p 28), ‘a social worker should take into account the prevailing economic and social factors that surround his or her clients to provide effective advise.’ Biological or genetic abnormalities have also been credited for the behavior of certain people hence changing the kind of challenges that the person face. People with disabilities or are quite elderly should be accorded the same treatment and respect just like the other people. Questions of how valid their desires are should not be subject to total dismissal by the social practitioner (Norman, 1999, p 75) Question two: Influence of Personal Values and Beliefs in Social Work I believe in helping the clients be independent of my help so as to ensure that through progressive training and reasoning together, the client can acquire the skills. This would be through transmission of knowledge and guidelines to others including those who are nearest to the client (Morales & Sheafor, 2004, p 109). This would be done through practicing confidentiality and secrecy between the client and social worker. This would ensure that the problems and personal information of the client is only known by the social worker (Strom-Gowried, 1999). Also as a professional social worker, I value the willingness to keep personal needs and feelings away from the professional relationship. This would ensure that the client-worker environment is not clouded by other hindrances to effective service delivery. I also believe that there should be high and existent professional and personal conduct as well as helping clients in their efforts regardless of the frustration that may be realized. The above named values and believes are very important in people’s assessment and relationship building in the social service sector. They help in creation of a good environment for effective communication between the client and the practitioner. In addition, the values guide me in acknowledging the various differences that may exist between the practitioner and the client while still ensuring that the client’s needs are met fully. As described by Cox, Campbell and Fulford (2007, p 31), ‘Social workers must be concerned with his or her own values, and control for inappropriate intrusion into practice situations. This is known as value suspension’. Value suspension, would be a key instrument which I would use to advise a client who would be of contrary opinion. These values also help me in the emphasis of professional ethics while dealing with clients. This enables the practitioner to be unbiased or unprejudiced against certain people (Strom-Gowried, 1999). In addition, the values help me in maintaining professional ethics as required by the social work profession. As described by Liard (2008, p 42), ‘Social work does not ask one to change or deny those values, but rather encourages one to be aware of them so that they do not interfere with treatment’. The personal values that the social worker should not be a barrier but act as one of the options available but should not be dictated or strongly emphasized. Question Three: Cultural values that Might Influence Social work Cultural values are the traditional and socially accepted beliefs and habits (Liard, 2008, p 21). They may differ from one community to another, race to anther or region to another. These differences in cultural values expose the social worker to unexpected scenarios which would have been avoided with prior knowledge. It is believed that every culture has its own values and beliefs which would be considered as taboo by other communities. The social worker should ensure that he fully understands the culture of the people or clients he is going to deal with (Norman, 1999, p 121). This would ensure proper communication and offering of advice is given to the client. In addition, the knowledge of different cultures values would ensure that the goals aimed at by the client and social worker are met. If the practitioner encourages such values then he is bound to receive better cooperation from the resident groups or clients. This would also improve on his professionalism while dealing with the group by incorporating his professional values in the cultural values. Some cultural values may also dictate the kind of relations that may exist between people of different ages, gender or particular groups (Laird, 2008, p 21). This would also be instrumental in enhancing the client practitioner relationship. Question Four: The Social Work Practice As described by Morales and Sheafor (2004, p 23), ‘Social work is a discipline involving the application of social theory and research methods to study and improve the lives of people, groups, and societies.’ This is further supported by Liard (2008, p 51) by saying, ‘Social work is also the name of the profession committed to the pursuit of social justice, to the enhancement of the quality of life, and to the development of the full potential of each individual, family, group, and community in society.’ Hence social work is a service rendered to the people who require special attention. As recorded by Morales and Sheafor (2004, p 7), ‘Ethics are so important in social work that the profession has a “code of ethics”.’ Social workers also confront ethical dilemmas involving confidentiality of the information or knowledge gained from his clients (James, 2003, p 34). This code contains the guidelines in which the social workers follow while implementing their social responsibility. Social work practice is also guided by other values which are emphasized by the National Association of social workers (Marshall & Eli, 2009, p 53). They may include the value of service, social justice, dignity and the worth of each person, integrity, human relationships and competence. These would be seized up by combining them with the code of operation or ethics which would in turn improve on the efficiency of the services provided. Social work is also not only the dictates the professional part of the practice but it also includes the learning and interacting of the practitioner and client (James, 2003, p 23). The practitioner should apply the professional values of social working but mainly concentrate on the cultural, moral, economic, political and religious beliefs and values of the client or community. This would ensure efficient communication and encourage a smooth relationship between the practitioners and the client. Conclusion Social work is a practice that seeks to ensure that there is mutual respect, harmony and that justice and fairness exists among communities and people living together. Employment of personal values to the practice would either complicate or ease the challenge facing a certain individual or group of people. The practice is credited with the use of practice based and virtue based ethics and codes which guide the way the social workers conduct their business without infringing harm on the client. References Cox, J., Campbell, A.V. and Fulford, B. (2007). Medicine of the Person Faith, Science and Values in Health Care Provision. London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Furness, S. and Gilligan, P. (2010) Religion, Belief and Social Work: Making A Difference. Bristol: Policy Press James, E. D. (2003). Social Work: the little guide to understanding the human nature. London: Routledge Laird, S.E. (2008) Anti-Oppressive Social Work A guide for developing cultural competence. London: Sage Publications. Marshall, F. and Eli, T., (2009). Believers and Skeptics: Where Social Worker Situate Themselves Regarding the Code of Ethics. London: Routledge Morales, A.T. & Sheafor, B.W. (2004). Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Norman, L. (1999). Social work: Values, Ethics & Practice. England: Wadsworth Productions. Strom-Gowried, K. (1999). Ethics and practice. Professional Boundaries: An Analysis of Violations by Social Workers by. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services. 80, 439-449. Read More