Theoretical Frameworks and Codes of Ethics within the Scope of Social Work - Case Study Example

Role Play Analysis--- George and Fiona’s Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course: Date: Role Play Analysis--- George and Fiona’s The George and Fiona’s case and the role playing remains the heart of effective tool for understanding the need to grasp good communication and interpersonal skills in attaining effectiveness of social work practices. From the one hand, role playing as postulated by George in discussing his difficulty in staying at home as a retired points to the need to gain appropriate skills and ethical attributes to be a person who is flexible and responsible with regard to his or her communication and as such, can address social related affairs especially with the most vulnerable people in the society. At the point of retirement, the case presents George as a 66-year client who is finding it hard to adapt to new challenges of life which to some extent, Molly, the wife, is not able to understand. To that respect, there is need to approach this case by conceptualizing essential elements of social works including but not limited to communication and interpersonal skills, the role of social worker’s core values as ascribed through different codes of ethics and the essentiality of the role play in the video for future practices in the field of social work especially in the placement. In such connectedness, this study critically assesses the role play between George as the client and Fiona as the social worker to reflect on communications and interpersonal skills within the realm of different theoretical frameworks and codes of ethics within the scope of social work. Part One: Fiona’s (Social Worker) Perspective Contrariwise, the role of social worker’s core values as underpinned in AASW Code of Ethics remains multifaceted. As studies such as Reamer (2013) puts these values, they need to be contextualized within the process of engaging in a professional social work. To begin with, it is required by the AASW Code of Ethics that every professional social work to respect the right of voluntary clients especially when the social worker deals with a client who is expected to discontinue his or her services any time (Code of Ethics, 2010). In particular, Reamer (2013) has stressed on this AASW Code of Ethics adding that it will be the role of a professional social worker to discuss the issues that may be prompting the client to discontinue and if reasons are worthy then there should be no violations of such wishes. Within the premise of theoretical underpinnings and the demand of AASW Code of Ethics, the role of AASW Code of Ethics is understood by the position Kant took with regard to the theory of ethics (Code of Ethics, 2010). According to the theorist, professional social worker and in this case Fiona, should one person who makes decisions that are based on universal doctrines and these doctrines should be applied regardless of the consequences of social worker’s decisions or thoughts (Mallon, 2013). Relating this theory with AASW Code of Ethics, professional social worker is expected to obtain informed consent of every client of their authorized representative regardless of the situation that may prompt the social worker to make any decisions regarding the client (Code of Ethics, 2010). In addition to this point, AASW Code of Ethics expects that Fiona as the social worker to clarify the type of confidentiality with respect to participants in cases or situations where more than one person is involved. The insinuation of this value is that professional workers, especially those engaging with vulnerable people should devise stratified approach of communication with mutual understanding so that the process does not only embrace social work core values but also create a situation where clients are sure of their anonymity or they are sure that the process has removed details that identify them when they are sure that they used confidential information in the process of interacting with the social worker. One clear core value of any social worker (in this case Fiona) is the promotion of social change, enhancement of harmony and problem solving skills especially in human relationships and to larger extent, empowerment of people to enhance the social wellbeing (Gray and Webb, 2010). The case involving George is not about struggling with life past retirement, neither is dealing with disgruntled Molly, the case presents the need to acknowledge tenets of communication and interpersonal skills. Therefore, communicating as a social worker needs to look at issues and problems from the perspective of clients the social work intends to benefit. The emphasis of the video watched is to learn the fact that there is not appropriate approach of communicating. Instead, there is need to be pro-active and be aware of different situations so that solutions given in the process of communication will be in tandem with client need. That is, such level of communication will create a leeway for addressing and redressing injustices, inequity and social developments that affect the lives of client groups, clients and socially disadvantaged. Part One: George’s (Client) Perspective One of the challenges that George is explaining regarding Molly is failure to understand his situation. As a matter of fact, George points a scenario where he found it very difficult after breaking the plate. Furthermore, George is complaining about communication between him and the wife which has since gone down compared to when they used to be young. Based on these challenges, studies such as Hugman (2011) have acknowledged that communication and interpersonal skills that directly address rising social and system inequalities remain pivotal. In this case, there is need to attain skills that promote policies and practices that bring fair allocation of social responsibility, resources and mutual understanding. As a result of this script, George has no plans for his retirement and looks frustrated as there are no clear indicators that he intended to settle down. In such cases, communication and interpersonal skills to be employed is the appreciation of listening as George needs someone to listen to him. As a matter of fact, George has a lot to talk about but does much of that using his hands. Listening in any social work is one of the best interpersonal skills and communication tool in gathering information before suggesting any help. However, such approach should be done within the realm of social work values which are respect for the persons, social justice and professional integrity so that in the determination and pursuit of our social work, our commitments are guided by these values (Healy, 2014). One way of understanding George and Fiona’s role play is by integrating the Australian Association of Social Work Code of Ethics (AASW Code of Ethics) and how such codes of ethics should guide our commitments to attaining the aforementioned values and our interpersonal skills when dealing with people in the society. From the one hand, the case regarding George as the client has imparted the need to adopt research-based decision making processes as essential skills and personal attribute in administering social work. Any social worker addressing the case regarding George’s wife (Molly) will need to identify a number of decisions with regard to codes of ethics, ethical theories, and natural and legal justice principles. As Rubin and Babbie (2016) put it,” social work communication has moved from being an affair that favours social workers to one that stretches beyond social settings, theories and social work demands” (p. 46). Furthermore, Healy (2014) found that social work should integrate different theories of communication and ethics as one of the critical interpersonal skills so that there is understanding of homogeneity of social work processes. In addition to this, the operational structures of modern social settings describe the extent to which one’s personal attributes and communication skills will be relevant. According to Epstein and Buhovac (2014), these changes have been brought by social, political and legislative environment under which society operates. Integrating effective communication and interpersonal skills as far as George’s role play is concerned means devising restructuring measures that are aimed at bringing well-defined beahviours as well as values that contribute to a given social-environment orientations. To be specific, there will be need to recognize and communicate diversity in the social settings that will range from spiritual, secular and religious orientations before instilling certain values or attributes. This approach will not only improve communications between different groups in the social settings but enhance tolerance against views that Molly had regarding George when the idea of sitting in the house the whole day came. Based on the case study of George and Fiona’s role play, the theoretical framework, core values and code of ethics presented, a reflection on the values learnt remain two-fold as far as future social work is concerned. Firstly, there is need to integrate effective communication and cultural sensitivity in the practice. This would mean that social work practice build on general ethical and principle standards of social work because George and Fiona’s role play shows that the core model of any social work practice is to recognize and respect client’s specific needs, race based values, cultural beliefs and behaviors. Secondly, the case regarding George and Fiona’s role play shows that a social worker should develop dual or multiple relationships with clients. In as much as dual or multiple relationships may take different forms, the silence Molly is showing George is an indication that social work require the need to create social contact, sharing meals and exchanging gifts so that one can avoid the break in communication that has been shown in Molly’s case. References Code of Ethics. (2010). Australian Association of Social Workers. Canberra, A.C.T. Retrieved from http://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/1201 Epstein, M. J., & Buhovac, A. R. (2014). Making sustainability work: Best practices in managing and measuring corporate social, environmental, and economic impacts. Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Gray, M., & Webb, S. A. (Eds.). (2010). Ethics and value perspectives in social work. Palgrave Macmillan. Healy, K. (2014). Social work theories in context: Creating frameworks for practice. Palgrave Macmillan. Hugman, R. (2011). Ethics and Value Perspectives in Social Work. Australian Social Work, 64(2), 237-239. Mallon, G. P. (2013). Foundations of social work practice with lesbian and gay persons. Routledge. Reamer, F. G. (2013). The digital and electronic revolution in social work: Rethinking the meaning of ethical practice. Ethics and social welfare, 7(1), 2-19. Rubin, A., & Babbie, E. R. (2016). Empowerment Series: Research Methods for Social Work. Cengage Learning. Read More