Download HSB218 Intervention theories and methods

GETTING IT RIGHT:
Teaching Ethics for Practice
VALUES AND ETHICS
In the human services and social work
Judith Oliver
Understanding the difference…
Although values and ethics are sometimes used
interchangeably, the two terms are not identical.
Values pertain to beliefs and attitudes that provide
direction to everyday living, whereas ethics pertain
to the beliefs we hold about what constitutes right
conduct. Ethics are moral principles adopted by
an individual or group to provide rules for right
conduct. Morality is concerned with perspectives
of right and proper conduct and involves an
evaluation of actions on the basis of some broader
cultural context or religious standard.
Corey,Corey,Callanan (1998)
WHAT DOES ETHICS MEAN?
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Ethics is about right and wrong
Ethics is about how we are to live
Ethics is facing choices vs walking a path
ETHICS IS NOT
 A set of quasi-rules
 An imposed set of standards
ETHICS is a conversation about what we ought
to do in particular situations
CODES OF ETHICS/PRACTICE
Principles in Codes of Ethics
Every human being, regardless of racial origin, age,
sex, beliefs, and socio-economic status, has a right
to maximise his/her potential providing it does not
infringe upon the rights of others.
Every society has an obligation to provide for and
deal equitably with all its members and to make extra
provision for those persons who by reasons of
disability or misfortune are disadvantaged.
The human services/social worker in professional
practice has an obligation to utilise all available
skills and knowledge to promote the well being of
individuals, groups and communities.
Principles cont…
The human services worker has a professional
obligation to give clients all knowledge,
information and skills, which will assist clients,
and client groups realise their maximum human
potential.
The human services workers as a practitioner
within complex social structures has an
obligation to safeguard the human value of all
persons encountered in practice.
Values and Ethics (Zita Weber)
VALUES:
The customs, standards of conduct, and
principles considered desirable by a
culture, a group or people, or an
individual.
ETHICS:
A system of moral principles and
perceptions about right versus wrong and
the resulting philosophy of conduct that is
practiced by an individual, group,
professional or culture.
VALUES
The practitioners use of self in the
professional relationship, that is, your
personal values, affect how you practice.
So that the important concept of values is
not something that is ad hoc we need to
have a standard by which to gauge our
value based decision making.
AASW Code of Ethics
FIVE CORE VALUES:
 Human dignity and worth
 Social justice
 Service to humanity
 Integrity
 Competency
A RULE OR PRINCIPLE THAT IS
NOT DERIVED FROM VALUES BUT
FROM ANOTHER SOURCE IS NOT
AN ETHICAL RULE. Such a rule may
be a bureaucratic rule, a principle
derived from practice wisdom, or
something else, but it is not an ethical
rule.
(O’Hara & Weber, 2006).
ETHICS IS A “SCIENCE” OF CHOOSING??
Rather than being a matter of abstract
thought, or rules and law, or
predictability and universality
In practice, being ethical is a combination
of reason and intuition
Reason = a concern for principles and
consequences
Intuition = a concern for care, relationships
and context
So, Ethics is about finding our “voice”
(what we believe) not just about applying
rules and theories.
Ethical Issues in Human Services
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Confidentiality
Consequences of action or decisions
Respect between client and worker and organisation
Law breaking for ‘good intentions’
Not reporting breaking of law by client (eg an
escaped refugee detainee)
Morals vs cultural beliefs
Relationship between client and worker (too much?
too little?)
Societal values, government values
Your duty vs our belief in the right thing to do
Will someone be harmed by the actions of client or
worker?
ETHICAL ISSUES Cont…..
 Conflicting values of client, worker, agency,
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government and society
When something is good for one person but
could harm someone else
When what is best for the client is not what
they want
Protecting client rights – is it always our
priority?
Can all client’s make their own decisions –
impaired capacity
Maintaining values and behaviour – in the
face of what?
Ethical Issues Cont….
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Use and abuse of power
Personal involvement – client/worker
boundaries
Treating clients equally
Consistency
Do we need rules?
Trusting work colleagues – what would diminish
our trust?
Biases – culture, gender, sexuality, religion
Worker setting the agenda or hidden agendas
Allocation of resources: who, how, what, when
where and why?
Ethical Issues Cont….
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Duty of care
Conflict of interest
Dobbing in workers
Flexibility of agency policy
Sickies
Gossip
Work load
Taking advantage of vulnerable adults: Stealing,
manipulation, etc.
Not sharing information
Counselling alleged perpetrators
Racist attitudes in the workplace
Imposing personal values or beliefs on clients
Ethical Issues Cont…..
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Using agency for personal gain
Careerism
Inefficiency and waste
Interaction and intervention with families
Desired activities vs funding requirements
Confidentiality and minors
What is the difference between
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AN ETHICAL ISSUE
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AN ETHICAL DILEMMA
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BAD PRACTICE
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A MORAL DILEMMA
Ethics – by His Holiness the Dalai
Lama
“Ethics is a stage of mind that abstains
from engaging in any situation or event
that would prove harmful to others.
The perfection of ethics is
accomplished when you have
developed to the ultimate point the
conviction not to harm others. Ethics
is like a cool rain, which extinguishes
the fire of attachment, hatred, and
anger within you. The intention with
which you should undertake the
practice of ethics should be nonattachment, non-hatred, and also right
view”.
SO, CAN WE GET
IT RIGHT?
THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ATTENTION