Principles of Social Workers - Essay Example

Principles of Social Workers Introduction Social workers need to perform several activities for assisting people with diverse requirements within the community. The utmost objective of social worker is to empower people to lead a more satisfying, more independent and more dynamic life through exploitation of society’s information, resources and technical modernizations. Arguably, the tasks of social workers have emerged in reaction to the growth of human problems in modern generation. For social workers, the key for successful service delivery is to deliver effective services to clients or people with a prospect to become self-sufficient (Woodside & McClam, 2008). Thesis Statement Considering the task of social workers this report would intend to discuss the ethical standards and responsibilities of social workers. Thus, the objective of report is to understand various aspects of the moral concerns and other operating principles to be considered by the social workers taking into account the working standards, historical outlooks, confidentiality and ethical responsibilities. Unique Aspects of Social Worker’s Profession Social worker’s occupation has its unique form of understanding, ‘code of ethics’, values, state certifications and countrywide system of qualified education packages. These aspects prepare social workers to syndicate the aspiration and to assist others with the knowledge, abilities and morals which are essential to offer such assistances with efficiency. Contextually, besides various non-governmental organizations, social workers are also found in public organizations, profit-seeking companies, hospitals, universities, police branches, courts and numerous other modern day workplaces serving various people, families and societies at large (National Association of Social Workers, 2012). It is worth mentioning in this regard that professional social workers assist people to restore or improve their abilities for social working through developing societal situations favorable of the accomplishment of their objectives. Hence, the tasks of social work require acquaintance of human behavior of social, financial and cultural establishments and the incorporation of all these characteristics. Furthermore, social workers’ occupation is considered as highly qualified and knowledgeable specialists, which is also regarded as one of the rapidly increasing professions in the United States. The report of ‘Council on Social Work Education’ depicts that in the year 2000, almost 22,163 students were registered in social working programs which was further anticipated to grow by 30% in 2010. Unlike other professions, social workers attempt to assist people to overcome the challenges faced by them in their daily lives in terms of poverty, discernment, abuse, addiction, physical sickness, annulment, joblessness, educational limitation, disability and mental sickness. It is in this context that the social workers attempt to inhibit crisis situations and guide people to deal with the pressures of regular life more efficiently (National Association of Social Workers, 2012). National Organization for Human Service Education (NOHSE) Standards In general terms, there are no specific standards which can provide action for every situation that might appear in the tasks of social workers. However, in the year 1995, National Organization for Human Service Education (NOHSE) had approved ethical standards for social workers in order to reduce the conflict of strategies towards determining the course of actions to be taken in certain circumstances. These standards narrated the responsibilities bestowed on social workers defining social work as an occupation which has developed in reaction to the expectation of human requirements and problems. Therefore, social workers should preserve the truthfulness and morals of occupation, encourage welfare of people and improve their professional qualities on a continuous basis. Based on this presumption, the standards provided by NOHSE replicate strategies which social workers generally have to consider in moral and professional decision making while performing their activities (Woodside & McClam, 2008). Social workers enter into professional associations with people, families, groups and societies. They can play the role of a caregiver, case handler, instructor, motivator, adviser, mobilizer, promoter, community developer, and inspector and at times act as an overseer as well. The most common standards of NOHSE for social workers are as follows: Social workers negotiate with the clients in order to recognize the purpose, objective and nature of assisting relationship notifying clients regarding the boundaries of projected relationship Social workers admire the honesty and well-being of client at every moment treating them with esteem, respect, and pride Social workers also attempt to defend the ‘right of privacy’ of clients as well as their secrecy apart from those situations when the secrecy create harm to the clients and others, or when organizational strategies describe such acts, or even under similar circumstances In case, the behavior of client pose threat of injury, social workers act in appropriate and professional way in order to protect the safety of people which may also involve seeking discussions, directions and if needed, breach of the secrecy of relationship Social workers protect the reliability of client information, and therefore, every detailed information which is shared with other specialists should have clients’ prior inscribed consent Social workers are conscious that the influence and position of clients are uneven owing to which they ignore dual affiliation that might again harm professional decisions, raise the risk of impairment to clients and also result in mistreatments Social workers are also fully aware about the limitations and opportunities of professional understanding and provide services within their knowledge and skill base Social workers seek proper discussion and direction in decision making where there are legal, ethical and other problems identified (Woodside & McClam, 2008) Historical Perspectives on Federal Laws Relating to Social Workers The social service in the United States have been learnt to be highly influenced by the laws and customs of England. The social service practices were traditionally categorized into law by the parliament throughout the 1840s contained within local mechanism, with managerial divisions made up of communities and selected people of community nominated supervisors of the poor. These supervisors had responsibility for the poor people which encompassed finding jobs, taking care of abandoned children and delivering assistance to the lame, helpless, old, and sightless people among others disable groups. It is worth mentioning that the laws on services to the poor people, during that time, was extremely influenced the social service practices in United States (Rengasamy, 2012). In United States the puritan viewpoints were the basis for the guiding principles of social services. The puritans believed in systematic, categorized world with god governing at top position. The activities of charity to assist deprived people were also regarded as important aspect of spiritual practices. During the era, there were no such hopes that charitable practices would promote the deprived people out of poverty and therefore, charity was observed as wellbeing to those people destined to suffer. However, during 1980s, urbanization & industrialization amplified several public issues which forced societies to address obligatory services. As charity funds increased, skilled workers observed the prerequisite for improved organization and administration of social services and consequently, they started to implement command to the difficulties in their societies. The present social service practices in the United States were legacy of British social service practice (Rengasamy, 2012). Notably, it was in the year 1921, with the introduction of ‘American Association of Social Workers’, more specialized attitude toward social work had grown. The problems of modern life and social evils related with economic development were believed to be too intimidating for the traditional inexperienced social service workers. The social work occupation thereby formulated principles encouraging social investigations and technical approaches for providing assistances to people. While social occupation resulted in more reliable and intensive care for needy people, much of the activist enthusiasm and aspiration for social transformation demolished by the verge during the 19th century. Hence, the federal laws relating to social workers came with guidelines after establishment of ‘Federal Emergency Relief Administration’ (Rengasamy, 2012). Confidentiality It has often been argued that social service is developed around trust and confidentiality. Thereby, the primary objective of social worker is to enhance the well-being of human and help to fulfill the requirements of people who are defenseless, troubled and existing in poverty preserving confidentiality for betterment of efficiency in relation to the delivered services. Based on this presumption, the ‘code of ethics’ of social workers comprise making the right decision which can encompass confidentiality matters. However, social workers can disclose confidential information when appropriate but it should have legal agreement from clients or the person who is officially sanctioned to approve such conducts in the best interests of a client. In this regard, the overall prospects state that social workers must maintain information confidentiality which does not apply when revelation is essential to prohibit severe, predictable and forthcoming damages to the client’s interest or other recognizable person or when laws necessitate revelation without receiving clients’ permission. In every case, social workers should reveal the minimum amount of confidential information essential to accomplish the anticipated objectives. Hence, only information straightforwardly related to the reasons for which the revelation is made must be exposed. Confidentiality principles also affirm that it is the responsibility of social workers to notify clients regarding the revelation of confidential information and the possible outcomes, before the revelation is made. This implies whether social workers reveal confidential information based on legal necessities or clients’ permission. Therefore, social workers must communicate with their clients about the type of confidentiality and restrictions of clients’ ‘right to privacy’. They should appraise the outcomes where confidentiality of information might be demanded and where revelation of confidential information might be legally essential. It is worth mentioning in this regard that when social workers deliver advocating services to families, couples or groups, the issue of confidentiality turns more complex. In this circumstance, social workers need to notify the parties that assurance on devoting confidentiality cannot be accomplished completely (Castillo & Master, n.d.). With respect to third party financiers, social workers must not reveal private information to them except those approved by clients. Hence, it is the liability of social workers not to converse information about clients on public surroundings such as cafeterias, elevators and entrances among others areas where the privacy might get hampered. In time of legal processing, they should also defend the confidentiality to the level which is acceptable by law. In case court commands social workers to reveal confidential information irrespective of clients’ agreement irrespective of the consequence that such revelation could create harm to the client, social workers must appeal for withdrawing the command or restricting the directive to the possible extent or maintain information within closed form so that it becomes inaccessible for public review. Furthermore, in reaction to the demand from media, appropriate confidentiality must be maintained With respect to removal of information, confidentiality should be maintained in accordance with national laws prevailing records and social work license (Castillo & Master, n.d.). Ethical Responsibilities The key responsibility of social workers is often argued to encourage the welfare of clients concerning moral interests. Social workers admire and stimulate the privileges of clients to self-determination and help them to recognize and simplify the objectives managing moral conflicts effectively. Based on the ethical concern, social workers must deliver services on professional grounds rather than focusing on their personal interests. In terms of services, social workers must also use unambiguous and logical language to advice clients about the services along with the threats and limitations associated with those services. In certain circumstances when clients are not knowledgeable enough or have to face inevitable problems to understand the services, social workers must take appropriate actions to ensure the understanding of the concerned clients. From an overall perspective, it can be thus stated that it is the ethical duty of social worker to protect the interests of clients by pursuing authorization and notifying clients with their level of understanding (Hepworth, Rooney & Rooney, 2010). Conclusion The tasks of social workers is quite challenging as it deals with diverse kinds of people facing numerous problems. They need to perform on the basis of certain rules, regulations, standards and codes. It is in this context that every social worker needs to abide by a few common objectives to serve the clients with the willingness to assume responsibilities which can ensure welfare of their clients. Arguably, it can b e affirmed that social workers has vast importance in community today, playing a fundamental role ensure human rights and helping people to live with dignity. It is in this context that social workers must have adequate understanding about different cultures and its functions in the deciphered human behavioral traits and society, by identifying the strengths and weaknesses. Increased information about different cultures can help social workers to exhibit skills in delivery services which are delicate to clients’ culture thereby ensuring their ethical responsibilities to avoid discrimination. References Castillo, D., & Master, R. (n.d.). Social work ethics – confidentiality. http://www.ceuschool.com/librarydocs/SOC220.pdf Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., & Rooney, G. D. (2010). Direct social work practice: theory and skills. United States: Cengage Learning. National Association of Social Workers. (2012). Careers in social work. Retrieved from http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/choices/default.asp National Association of Social Workers. (2012). Social work profession. Retrieved from http://www.naswdc.org/pressroom/features/general/profession.asp Rengasamy, S. (2012). History of social welfare/social work. Retrieved from http://www.scribd.com/doc/14826079/History-of-Social-Work Woodside, M., & McClam, T. (2008). An introduction to human services. United States: Cengage Learning. Read More