"Professional ethics encompass the personal and corporate standards of behavior expected of professionals."
This topic covers the ethical considerations and challenges that arise in community practice and advocacy, including issues related to confidentiality, informed consent, and dual relationships.
Ethical Principles and Codes: Understanding the fundamental ethical principles, their application in social work practice, and the codes and standards of conduct established by professional organizations such as the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
Confidentiality and Privacy: Understanding the importance of confidentiality and privacy in social work practice, the legal and ethical requirements for maintaining confidentiality, and the circumstances in which confidentiality may be breached.
Boundaries and Dual Relationships: Understanding the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and avoiding dual relationships that might compromise the objectivity and effectiveness of social work practice.
Cultural Competence and Diversity: Understanding the concept of cultural competence and the importance of respecting cultural diversity, recognizing and addressing social injustice and inequality, and promoting social justice and human rights.
Collaborative Practice: Understanding the importance of collaboration and cooperation in social work practice, and the ethical and practical considerations in working with other professionals, agencies, and organizations.
Advocacy and Social Justice: Understanding the role of advocacy and social justice in social work, the ethical principles and practices of advocating for clients and communities, and the strategies and techniques for achieving social change and transformation.
Self-Care and Professional Development: Understanding the importance of self-care and professional development in social work practice, the ethical issues and challenges of maintaining personal and professional boundaries, and the strategies and resources for managing stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue.
Ethical Decision-Making: Understanding the process of ethical decision-making, the ethical principles and frameworks for analyzing and resolving ethical dilemmas, and the role of consultation and supervision in promoting ethical practice.
Legal and Regulatory Issues: Understanding the legal and regulatory issues that affect social work practice, such as licensure and certification, malpractice and liability, and mandated reporting of child abuse and neglect.
Research and Evaluation: Understanding the ethical principles and practices of social work research and evaluation, including informed consent, confidentiality and privacy, data collection and analysis, and the dissemination and use of research findings.
Confidentiality: Social workers should keep their client's information confidential unless it is required by law or authorized by the client.
Informed Consent: Social workers should inform clients of the nature and purpose of services, the risks and benefits, and other alternatives before they provide or request consent.
Cultural Competence: Social workers should have knowledge and understanding of different cultural customs and values to provide competent and appropriate services to diverse populations.
Dual Relationships: Social workers should avoid dual relationships, where personal, social or financial relationships with clients interfere with professional boundaries.
Client Autonomy: Social workers should respect the client's right to self-determination, allowing clients to make their own decisions as far as possible.
Conflict of Interest: Social workers should avoid conflicts of interest that jeopardize actions for the client's best interests.
Ethics between Clients: Social workers should respect clients' privacy and avoid sharing client information or experiences between clients without making sure it is safe, necessary and ethical.
Advocacy: Social workers should take active and effective measures to support and promote the well-being and rights of their clients or social groups.
Collaborative Relationships: Social workers should develop and maintain appropriate relationships with colleagues and other professionals to support their clients' needs and interests.
Boundary Management: Social workers should maintain professional boundaries with clients, maintaining ethical limits on professional relationships.
"The word professionalism originally applied to vows of a religious order."
"By no later than the year 1675, the term had seen secular application."
"The term professionalism was applied to the three learned professions: divinity, law, and medicine."
"The term professionalism was also used for the military profession around this same time."
"Professionals and those working in acknowledged professions exercise specialist knowledge and skill."
"How the use of this knowledge should be governed when providing a service to the public can be considered a moral issue and is termed 'professional ethics'."
"Professionals are capable of making judgments, applying their skills, and reaching informed decisions in situations that the general public cannot because they have not attained the necessary knowledge and skills."
"One of the earliest examples of professional ethics is the Hippocratic oath."
"Medical doctors still adhere to this day."
"Professional ethics encompass the personal and corporate standards of behavior expected of professionals."
"The term professionalism refers to the three learned professions: divinity, law, and medicine."
"How the use of this knowledge should be governed when providing a service to the public can be considered a moral issue."
"They have attained the necessary knowledge and skills."
"The Hippocratic oath is one of the earliest examples of professional ethics."
"Medical doctors still adhere to this day."
"Professional ethics govern how the use of knowledge should be when providing a service to the public."
"Professionals can make judgments, apply their skills, and reach informed decisions in situations that the general public cannot."
"The term professionalism applies to the three learned professions: divinity, law, and medicine."
"Professional ethics encompass the personal and corporate standards of behavior expected of professionals."