Background Info:
Social work is a profession bound by a code of ethics, one which has evolved in conjunction with the development of social work practice. The code of ethics outlines the mission and values of the social work profession, as well as the subsequent principles and standards that demonstrates those values. The code is not a rule book, but a set of guidelines that helps a social worker choose the most appropriate course of action.
Codes of ethics or discussions of ethics can be formal, sometimes resembling legal language, and adopted by varied groups. When examined closely and analyzed, they can become powerful, and their meaning can evolve with your experience. And they serve a practical purpose, especially in social work—they are guiding principles and a checkpoint. In this Discussion, you reflect on the NASW Code of Ethics to begin the process of finding how its meaning can apply to your practice.
To Prepare:
Read the NASW Code of Ethics in its entirety, including Preamble, Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics, Ethical Principles, and Ethical Standards.
Focus on this Standards
Standard 6 to Broader Society
Note: Your Instructor may change the assignments to standards to achieve a more even distribution of students to each standard. Check the Announcements to determine if this has occurred.
Consider how you might explain to a peer the relevance of the NASW code of ethics generally and your assigned section of the code specifically.
Assignment:
Post the following as it relates to your assigned standard:
Describe professional ethics and the purpose of the NASW code of ethics in your own words.
Explain the section of the code that you were assigned.
Describe the standards within that section in your own words.
Provide a specific example of how a social worker would apply these ethical standards in their practice.
References:
National Association of Social Workers. (2021). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social WorkersLinks to an external site.. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English.aspx
National Association of Social Workers. (n.d.). History of the NASW code of ethicsLinks to an external site.. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/History
Sewpaul, V., & Henrickson, M. (2019). The (r)evolution and decolonization of social work ethics: The global social work statement of ethical principlesLinks to an external site.. International Social Work, 62(6), 1469–1481. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872819846238
Mathias, J. (2015). Thinking like a social worker: Examining the meaning of critical thinking in social workLinks to an external site.. Journal of Social Work Education, 51(3), 457–474. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2015.1043196
Association of Social Work Boards. (n.d.). Laws and regulations databaseLinks to an external site.. https://www.aswb.org/regulation/laws-and-regulations-database/
Grise-Owens, E., Owens, L. W., & Miller, J. J. (2016). Recasting licensing in social work: Something more for professionalismLinks to an external site.. Journal of Social Work Education, 52(sup1), S126–S133. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2016.1174641
Monahan, M. J. (2016). The challenges and benefits of becoming a licensed social workerLinks to an external site.. The New Social Worker. https://www.socialworker.com/extras/social-work-month-project-2016/the-challenges-and-benefits-of-becoming-a-licensed-social-worker/#:~:text=Most%20licensure%20laws%20protect%20both,and%20four%20protect%20practice%20only
Walden University. (2016, 2021). The NASW code of ethics [Video]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com/
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