NASW CODE OF ETHICS VS. PERSONAL BELIEFS OF SOCIAL …



The NASW Code of Ethics vs. Personal Beliefs of Social WorkersBrooke M. PaskerLoras CollegeAbstractSocial workers engage in diverse populations in a variety of settings where ethical dilemmas may arise. Within these ethical dilemmas, it can occur that the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and the personal beliefs and values of social workers do not align. This paper aims to examine why a social worker should probably follow the NASW Code of Ethics all of the time, even when it conflicts with their personal morals or beliefs. I use published articles consisting of a survey of a sample group, and interviews with social work and education professionals. I also use the NASW’s Code of Ethics. Wendt, Tuckey and Prosser (2011) state “Two social workers…identified their Christian values and beliefs as helping them thrive in difficult fields of practice.” I find that personal morals and values can aid social workers in solving ethical dilemmas rather than making them more challenging to overcome.Social work is a field of serving diverse populations in a plethora of unpredictable settings. Social workers correspond daily with people that other professions do not. They often encounter people they normally wouldn’t outside of work. Because social workers may come from different backgrounds than the clientele they serve “…social workers are apt to encounter a seemingly endless host of ethical dilemmas and conflicts” (Chechak, 2011, p. 3). The proper responses are not clear in ethical dilemmas, but the National Association of Social Workers has provided a Code of Ethics for social workers to consult when these dilemmas arise. But because social workers also come from a variety of backgrounds, their personal values may not always coordinate with the Code of Ethics. This paper explores why social workers should probably follow the NASW Code of Ethics all of the time, even when it conflicts with their personal morals or beliefs.For many social workers, their Christian faith is what motivates them to be a social worker as well as help them with difficult cases. In a study completed by Wendt, Tuckey and Prosser (2011), “two social workers…identified their Christian values and beliefs as helping them thrive in difficult fields of practice” (p. 322). While religious or spiritual values and beliefs can assist in troubling situations, they can also bring ethical dilemmas to rise when they do not align with the NASW’s Code of Ethics. This situation may be made especially challenging if the social worker is employed by a secular agency. For example, if a social worker’s client is a pregnant young woman considering her options, the social worker must tell the woman that her options include carrying the baby to term and being a single mother, offering the child up for adoption, or having an abortion. The social worker is a devout Christian whose religion believes that abortion disrespects human life. The social worker is now in an ethical dilemma because her spiritual and religious beliefs are different from the NASW’s Code of Ethics. Both the social worker and the agency want the best for the client but they have different methods of reaching the best outcome for the client. Social workers also should be aware of the impact on ethical decision making of their clients’ and their own personal values and cultural and religious beliefs and practices. They should be aware of any conflicts between personal and professional values and deal with them responsibly. For additional guidance social workers should consult the relevant literature on professional ethics and ethical decision making and seek appropriate consultation when faced with ethical dilemmas. This may involve consultation with an agency-based or social work organization’s ethics committee, a regulatory body, knowledgeable colleagues, supervisors, or legal counsel. (NASW Code of Ethics, “Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics”)The Code of Ethics does not make the final decision for social workers; rather it guides them to consider the possible opposition of their personal beliefs with the Code of Ethics early in their career. If they do encounter an ethical dilemma, they should examine their options and speak with coworkers or another knowledgeable party that could have valuable input. In the end, the decision is left to the social worker whether they will follow their personal values or the Code of Ethics.Another example of personal values and social work practice misaligning is when clients participate in activities that the social workers themselves would not choose to participate in. An example of this would be a client’s misuse of drugs or alcohol. A social worker may choose for him or herself not to use drugs because of the physical damage it does not one’s body. If the social worker feels so strongly about their client’s substance abuse, the social worker may decide to refer the client to another social worker.Social workers should be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment. Social workers should inform clients when a real or potential conflict of interest arises and take reasonable steps to resolve the issue in a manner that makes the clients’ interests primary and protects clients’ interests to the greatest extent possible. In some cases, protecting clients’ interests may require termination of the professional relationship with proper referral of the client. (Code of Ethics, Section 1.06)In a situation like this where there is a conflict of interest between the social worker and client, the Code of Ethics grants permission to social workers to choose whether to terminate the case with the client and refer them to a coworker, however the referral must be made with the best interest of the client in mind.The National Association of Social Workers has provided social workers with a guide of what to do when ethical dilemmas occur. But in the unpredictable field of social work it happens that a social worker’s personal beliefs and values come into conflict with this Code of Ethics. Instances of this include when a social worker’s spiritual beliefs hold high priority in their life or when there is a conflict of interests between the social worker and the client. These cases demonstrate that social workers should follow the NASW Code of Ethics most, but not all, of the time.ReferencesChachek, Derek. June 2011. Social Work as a Value-Based Profession: Value Conflicts and Implications for Practitioners’ Self-Concepts. Retrieved from Association of Social Workers. (1999). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Washington, DC.? NASW Press. Wendt, S., Tuckey, M. R., & Prosser, B. (2011). Thriving, not just surviving, in emotionally demanding fields of practice. Health & Social Care In The Community, 19(3), 317-325. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2524.2010.00983.x ................
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