Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PROFESSIONAL VALUES
A RESOLVEABLE CONFLICT?
Kantian
We are each the captains of our ship essentialism derived from experience
We can (as a human race) derive universal values/truisms things we hold to be self evident We (as a human race) cannot
Personal Values
Our personal value base is unique to us there is no written format of what they are/should be. We can make a marked improvement in our own lives by committing to the values we already believe in or by adopting new ones. We need to identify the values we hold as an individual and consider how these values influence us and the impact they may have on not only our own lives but ultimately on others.
Bronfenbrenner(1979)
Microsystem -siblings
Microsystem parents
Mesosystem
Moral development
Pre-conventional
Choices on the basis of immediate consequences May choose an ethical alternative if in their own self-interest Morality defined by fear of external influences, i.e. authority, parents (Kohlberg: 1976)
Conventional Level
Decisions made in accordance with formal rules Rooted in informal norms of social context Choose ethical alternatives at a cost to themselves
Paternalism
A value position that social are professions have bee accused of often adopting is Paternalism, which originates from the Latin pater, and means to act like a father, or to treat another person like a child. There is an implied intention to act for the good of another person but often without that person's consent, or limited agreement in a manner that parents might do for their children.
Paternalists advance people's interests (such as life, health, or safety) at the expense of their own self determination Paternalists suppose that they can make wiser decisions than the people for whom they act.
Professional Values
What is our professional value base? How have these been formed? What is the role of professional social work values.
A Case Study
Maisie is a 62 year old white woman who has been married to Albert, a 68 year old white male for 44 years. Albert was diagnosed as suffering with Alzheimers disease when he was 65 and the illness has made significant progress. He shows some cognition in long term memory but has limited short-term memory and on occasion fails to recognise her as his wife. Maisie is slight in build and is finding the physical care of Albert increasingly demanding now she is increasingly having to undertake the personal care of Albert. She is unsure as to whether or not his occasional angry outbursts are the result of his frustration or whether they are the result of a far less rational process, but her safety cannot be guaranteed at such times. Maisie want to continue to care for her husband and feels guilty about having to ask for help. Albert wants to stay at home and have his care undertaken by his wife. Peter, the son lives away and wants his father to go into residential care. Paula, the daughter wants to help support her mum to care for her dad but suffers from depression, The GP thinks respite care is appropriate. You are the Social Worker, Following your assessment of need you want to recommend the level of home care is increased. However you know the adult care budget is stretched and your manager is restricting additional services for existing service users.
The Roles
Advocacy Community Development Traditional casework Allocator/Controller of services Statutory intervention Care Manager/broker
principles
Client Skilled helper Awareness Personal raising devPEGS Private/ high autonomy
Service users
Staff
Butrym
Butrym (1976) describes three principles for social work.
Respect for Individuals, due to their inherent worth and independent of their actual achievements or behaviour. Belief in the social nature of man as a unique creature depending on other men for fulfilment of his uniqueness.
Timms
Timms (1983) identifies five typical inclusions in a social work values list; Respect the client. Accept him for himself. Not to condemn him. Uphold his right to self determination. Respect his confidence
Human dignity and worth Social justice Service to humanity Integrity Competence
Professional values
The social work profession embraces and strives to promote a strong values system. The values we advocate don't always make us popular.
Professional Misconduct
Professional misconduct is defined by BASW as being anything that is;
Harmful to service users or members of the public. Prejudicial to the development or standing of social work practice. Contrary to the code of ethics.
Conclusion
As Varidaki-Levine (2004:2) highlights:
A brief reference to Social Work Philosophy and Values reveals that the tremendous scope of the above issues should be constantly studied, explored and researched. The Social Work Code of Ethics may provide a meaningful and acceptable base for professional accountability but the discussion on moral issues is an on-going process. This notion leads to the next issue, that although Social Work is considered an Applied Discipline, the application of its knowledge is not a simple or a mechanistic process.
Summary
Each of us has a set of personal values.
As each individual is unique, so is their value base they hold. There is no set prescription/format for a personal value base. Values can be challenged, defended or changed Just because you do not have a strong reaction to an issue does not mean you do not have a value base. You are in the process of developing and hopefully adopting a professional value base There may be conflict between personal and professional values. Where possible any conflict should be reduced to a minimum
Reference List
Banks, S. (2006) Ethics, Accountability and the Social Professions. London: Palgrave. Biestek, F. (1961) The Casework Relationship Butrym, Z. (1976) The Nature of Social Work. Macmillan Education: London. GSCC (2005). General Social Care Council Codes of Practice [online] UK. Available from http://www.gscc.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/041E62616BB0-43A7-A9A4-80F658D2A0B4/0/Codes_of_Practice.pdf. Kohlberg, L. (1976). Moral stages and moralization: the cognitive developmental approach. In T. Lickona (ed.), Moral development and behaviour: theory, research and social issues. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, pp. 3153. (1984). Essays on moral development, vol. II. The psychology of moral development: the nature and validity of moral stages. San Francisco: Harper and Row. Parrott. L (2006)Values and Ethics in Social Work Practice. Exeter: Learning Matters Timms, N. (1983) Social work values: an enquiry Varidaki-Levine, L. (2004) The impact of social work philosophy and values in praxis and in the learning process of the practitioners. ESRA