Social Work Ethics - Essay Example

Introduction Social work mainly focuses on the powerless people, the disadvantaged, and the vulnerable members of the society as well as offenders. These groups of people include families, children and the young people alike. A social worker is hence a person who has very delicate matters at hand and serves people with special needs in the community. It is expected that the social worker promotes and creates awareness on the rights of such people, protects them whenever necessary against harassment and exploitation, and also addresses the effects and causes of offensive behaviour by the respective offenders. Social workers during their course of duty works with families, individuals and various groups in different settings and venues. For instance, daycare centres offices within the neighbourhood, the service user's houses, and residential homes. The social worker can also offer their services in health facilities schools, prisons, community centres and law courts, (Dienhart, John William 1999). A service user is the person who receives the help or assistance of the social worker. As described above, the service user can be based anywhere and mainly falls within the category of the disadvantaged or offenders in the society. The social worker works to correct their behaviour, protect them or even assisting the service user to attain higher health standards a decent living, (Burton, Lloyd 1987). The Social Services Council in Scotland is a public body that is non-departmental. The responsibilities and functions of this body are stipulated very clearly in the Scotland Regulation of Care precisely in Act 2001.The public of Scotland has very high expectations of the people working and serving the boards of respective public bodies. They have guidelines on the general conduct that they must adhere to when working for the public body. The Scottish Social Services Council Code of Conduct It is the responsibility of every social worker to observe the prescribed code of conduct as stipulated. The workers as a matter of duty must comply with the code and also review their personal circumstances regularly, at least annually and in most cases when there is a change of circumstances. It is prohibited for the social worker at any given time to encourage or advocate any behaviour or action that is contrary to the stated code of conduct, (Dienhart, John William 1999). The development of the code is based on the core principles as laid out in section 2. Additional information and explanation on the interpretation of the principles as well as their practical application. There is no way that any code can be able to provide and cater adequately for all the circumstances. The council therefore in addition issues guidelines for purposes of clarity. For any cases of uncertainty on the applicability of the set rules, a social worker in Scotland is often advised to consult and solicit for assistance and advice from legal adviser of the council. It is not out ruled that a worker in the council may also seek the advice of a personal legal adviser or a different relevant professional for the detailed and specialized advice. (SSSC, 2006). Any employee of the Scottish Social Services council must attain and process the following important principles upon which the prescribed code of conduct is founded; Public service; at all times the worker has to act in the best interest of the Scottish council and as required by the key duties of the council. Selflessness; It is a duty of the worker to make any tangible decisions to the best interest of the public. No decisions or actions must be taken in order to make any financial gain or benefit materially for family members, friends or personal gains. Integrity; The worker can not involve himself or herself in any obligation such that the deal may be considered to influence the workers performance. Objectivity; when conducting public business, the social worker must make decisions on merit. Accountability and stewardship; The worker is solely accountable for the actions and decisions taken for the public. The decisions must be taken on merit taking into consideration the effect that the decision has on other people. In addition, it is the responsibility of the worker to prudently utilize the resources of the Scottish council. Openness; It is expected that at all times the worker is open to the council on decisions made and that such information is restricted and withheld from the public unless it is an issue that the public demands to know. Honesty; Honesty is mandatory. Any interests that are private and are related to the public duties must be disclosed. The necessary steps must henceforth be taken to resolve resulting conflicts in a bid to protect the interest of the public. Respect; There must be respect between and among employees and fellow members of the council. Courteous behaviour is expected at all times. Leadership; To strengthen and maintain the confidence and trust of the public, the social workers must observe, support and promote all of the above principles by example and leadership. Duties of a social worker A social worker in Scotland is expected to reasonably careful with their health that of other workers and any other persons who in one way or another may be affected by the activities being carried out. It would be hazardous for the social worker in question to support and encourage the use of cannabis or any other substance that is deemed illegal for whatever reason even if its pain relief. Such a recommendation can only be given by a medical doctor or physician. A social worker in Scotland in addition is charged with the following responsibilities in the line of duty. The employee is strictly supposed to work as per the set procedures, policies, instructions, information and training acquired. Liaising with the relevant bodies on behalf of the individual as well as to work whenever necessary with different settings either in or outside the department. Recording of all the work done as required by the department's procedures. To prepare evidence based evaluations of the needs of families, young people and children. To come up with effective plans on care and intervention strategies Participating in supervision session and formal consultations as needed to critically evaluate the workers performance and personal practice in line with the immediate supervisor. To participate in training sessions that will help in the development of the worker and the department as well. In this case, the social worker will not only be going against the prescribed code of ethics but will be putting to risk the health of a third party, a fact that can lead to distraction of disciplinary action by the Scotland Social Services Council. Professional Values and Ethics of a Social Worker in the Scottish Council The term ethics is derived from the Latin word ethic which refers to moral philosophy. It is used to refer to the study of customs and values of an individual or a group. It encompasses the analysis and use of concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, and responsibility. Ethical norms are the moral standards that help us judge good from bad or right from wrong and living morally. This involves articulating the good habits or character that we should have, the consequences of our behaviour on us and others and the duties that we are supposed to follow. The ethics in Scottish social Work Council monitor and regulate the activities of these workers. They become the grounds on which the employee can face ethical challenges and dilemmas. In social work, emphasis is normally laid on two core elements; the values upon which the social workers base their behaviour and the rules that govern an employee's social work in promoting the core values upon which social work is founded. The code of ethical behaviour shows core values that a social worker in Scotland must portray when working under the council. Some social workers often do not follow the code making them unethical. Their nature generally does not conform to the code of ethics. Social work is highly related to and associated with the basic human rights as well as social justice. The code of ethics is founded deeply on respect for other human beings, treating and regarding other people with dignity and inherent worth. Social workers in the Scotland's Social Services Council are obligated to defend and uphold other person's emotional, psychological, physical and spiritual well-being and integrity. The code of ethics is stated here below; (SSSC, 2006). Respect of the public's right to being self-determined It is considered ethical for the social workers to promote as well as respect the rights of the general public when it comes to making their individual choices and personal decisions. This is irrespective of the social worker's life choices, decisions and values. This code can only be contravened if the decision or choice being taken by the service user will threaten the basic rights and the legitimate interest of other members of the public. Promotion of the right to free participation The social worker is supposed to actively promote the full and free involvement and voluntary participation of the service user in ways and means that enable the users to be practically empowered in all the aspects of actions and behaviour affecting their lives and their decision making process, (Dienhart, John William 1999). The treatment of every person as a complete and whole human being Every social worker in Scotland should be inherently concerned wholly with the service user in all the possible locations whether it's within the family, the society, the natural environment or the community. The worker in addition must seek to know all the details and aspects of an individual's life. Identification and development of the service user's strengths The main focus of the social worker when on the course of duty should be establishment of the specific strengths of all the persons in the public that are utilizing these services. This goes to all the communities, individuals and groups. The service should be accorded in equity with relation to the level of need. Ethical issues involved where a social worker was to support a service user in the use of cannabis/ or illegal substance to relieve pain allowing them to take an active part in the community. In the Scottish Social Work Council guidelines on ethics, the service users and clients have their rights protected and their interests promoted. In this case the social worker wants to support a service user to in the use of cannabis. The reason for doing this is to enable the user to take an active part in the community. The social worker in doing this will be unethical. The user according to the code of ethics has a right to free participation. This implies that the user has the right to give his or her participation in the community to the best they can on their own free will, capability and potential. When the social worker supports the use of cannabis by the service user, the user will be relieved of pain and will be better able to participate. This then means that the service user is not acting on his own free participation but under influence. It will hence be unethical for the social worker to make such a move. In the code of conduct, the worker is supposed to watch out on any decision that they make so that the health of the public is not at risk. Cannabis is an addictive illegal substance that has well known side effects; its consumption will be harmful to the health of the service user, (Burton, Lloyd. 1987). It is also ethical for the worker to allow the service user to enjoy the right to being self determined. The service user should them give their participation in the community's activities from self determination. When the service user is in pain, they may lack the real determination to participate in the events in the community. It is for this reason that the service user is seeking the cannabis to put him in a position to partake the community's activities. The move on this basis would be unethical, (Bowie, Norman E., and Patricia H R. 2005). The social worker as prescribed in the code of ethics is supposed to treat every person as a complete and whole person with no aspects of discrimination. The service user as described in this case is suffering from physical pain. In essence, if the user was to look at his case critically, he is not subject to physical activities due to the pain being experienced. In his wholeness as a human being, he is in pain and can only participate in the community activities to the extent that he can manage. Using cannabis to enable him participate in the communities activities would be wrong. This decision becomes unethical when taken by the social worker. The code of conduct prohibits social workers under the Scottish council to take up decisions based on their own values. They should implement the correct decision and not be influenced by their own perceptions. After all, the social worker at al times has both the interest of the council and the public at heart. By supporting the use of an illegal substance, the social worker will be tarnishing the image of the council. The social worker will also be compromising on the well being of the individual in question, (Amstutz, Mark R. 1999). The utilitarian doctrine considers an action to be worthwhile morally only if its consequence has a positive contribution to the overall well being. In other words an action is morally worth if its outcome is useful or beneficial. In reference to this doctrine the code of conduct in Scotland would not be in favour of such a decision from a social worker. The code has clearly stipulated what is expected of the council's employees. The social worker must be accountable for all the decisions that he/she makes for the public. Such a decision would not be responsible and the worker would be answerable if the service user was to use Cannabis. It is also expected that the worker be selfless and act in the best way to the advantage of the public. Substance abuse is hence out ruled by this code. The decisions of the worker should be objective in that you must make the decisions on merit. If the worker was to follow this rule, the state of health of the service user must come first such that service to his community will only be possible when the user's health iproves.Finally, the worker must be of integrity and serve the public to the best interest of the Scottish Council. The council would not support the consumption of any illegal substance and in such a case, the worker would be wrong to make a decision that will support an illegal, harmful act. Conclusion In the commitment to the advocacy of social justice of the public, social workers should overcome the challenge of discrimination and being influenced by their values in making decisions for the service user on behalf of the council. They must get over the circumstances that result to stigmatization, and social exclusion and instead work towards attaining an all inclusive society. References Amstutz, Mark R. (1999): International ethics: concepts, theories and cases in social work. Lanham, MD: Rowman, Littlefield Publishers Bowie, Norman E., and Patricia H R. (2005): Management ethics. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2005. Burton, Lloyd. (1987): Ethical aspects of public sector negotiation. Washington, DC: National Institute for Dispute Resolution Dienhart, John William (1999): Institutions, business, and ethics: a text with cases and readings. New York: Oxford University Press Scottish Social Services Council (2006): The Scottish Services council (conduct) Rules 2006A The Scottish social Services council (2007): Social Work; professional values and Ethics, retrieved from, http://www.scotland.gov.uk accessed on 30th October 30, 2007. Read More