Australian Association of Social Workers

Running head: REFLECTION 0
SOCIAL WORK FINAL PLACEMENT
APRIL 2, 2020
STUDENT DETAILS

REFLECTION 1
In Australia, the Code of Ethics (AASW, 2010) binds the profession of social work. In
addition, this profession is also bound by the values to describe as well as prescribe the
professional conduct. I am doing my placement in Headspace - Mental health provider with
young people. I realized that as a mental health provider, it is not easy to make decisions in
relation to the mental health care of young people. I came to know that the respect for
confidentiality or privacy as one of the values involved is biggest ethical issue for me in the
placement. The confidentiality is a situation of ethical dilemma in which it is required to made
choice between two options. I felt that the dilemmas around the confidentiality take place while
the confidentiality principle is in the possible conflict with other ethical principles like ignoring
harms to the youth people (patients).
Further, I realized that the values encourage the healthy relationship as well as living. The
values are helpful for me to get the life of young people on right track. In my opinion, the
common ethical challenges take place while the personal value as well as biases clash with the
values of patients. The starting point in evaluating the importance of possible harms from the
interest conflict is to recognise or mention value of primary interest. When the mental health
provider needs to take decision that whose consent is required to be taken, then the value of
conflicts takes place. It is found that it is in the possible conflict with different values like which
laws should be considered at the time of assessing as well as treating young people (Patil &
Ennis, 2018).
To get solution of these issues, challenges and conflicts, I will identify the problem in
depth. Them, I will collect the relevant data to know the problem properly. Further, I will
compare the issue with the particular rules mentioned in the Code of Ethics (AASW, 2010). In
addition, I will also decide who has the powers as well as controls in this situation. I will also see