Reflection on Social Experience and Ethics

Running head: REFLECTION ON SOCIAL EXPERIENCE AND ETHICS
REFLECTION ON SOCIAL EXPERIENCE AND ETHICS
Name of student:
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1REFLECTION ON SOCIAL EXPERIENCE AND ETHICS
Introduction
Social work has emerged from the democratic and humanitarian ideals and values that
are premised on the principles of dignity and equality. For social workers, human rights and
the commitment towards justice motivates them for social work. The Australian Association
of Social Workers (AASW) is an important professional body in Australia that have been
involved in working with the client groups especially from the marginalized section of the
society (Parrott 2014). The goal of this professional body has been to achieve social justice
and human rights through systematic change and advocacy (Australian Association of Social
Workers 2012). This paper documents my reflective journey as a professional social work
student and the ways in which my professional values and ethics have informed my practises,
approaches and methodological framework.
Reflections from working in two different settings
As a student of professional social work discipline, I had several encounters with
clients who have been victims of abuse, violence and later have internalized violence as a
coping mechanism to deal with the trauma. I have come across situations when children have
faced sexual abuse and needed a platform to articulate their pangs and release their pain.
Being a social worker although we are trained to trained to deal with such clients but the real
lesson is learnt in the field, during interaction with the client. All these have made me wonder
about my role and position as a social worker, the ethical dilemmas of the power dynamics
that is imbued in the relationship with client, and introspecting on the canonical practise in
social work that have informed the contours of professional workers including me. I will
reflect on two specific incidents in short journey as a professional social work student and
contemplate on the ethical practises and professional values that guided and determined my
work.

2REFLECTION ON SOCIAL EXPERIENCE AND ETHICS
The first incident pertains to my experience, when I was associated with the TLC
Disability. I was authorized by the centre to visit a young boy who had case history of violent
childhood. My client was a young boy who was tied to a tree by his stepfather and this
followed by the atrocious act of the stepfather abusing the younger sister f the boy. The boy
was forced to witness this gruesome incident unfold before his eyes. The veracity of violence
involved in the incident left the child traumatized. He sought refuge in violence and
aggression as a defence mechanism to deal with the incident. He also became a victim of
depression and became socially awkward. I felt the best way to make him relaxed and relieve
him from his pain would be to interact with like a friend. The first step was to fostering an
amiable relationship. I talked to him only when he was comfortable and in a calm state. He
was a soccer enthusiast and wanted to listen anecdotes on soccer. He was a supporter of Rea
Madrid FC. Although, I had limited knowledge about Real Madrid FC, I decided to muster
information on the same with the aim of striking friendship with the boy. A common platform
and shared interest becomes a fulcrum for further discussion. Every time we met, I had
something new to discuss with him and this further led him to believe that I am a friend with
whom he can discuss his interest of sports. To show my enthusiasm, I bought a Real Madrid
Jersey shirt. I would also get him his favourite ice-creams and indulged his habit of taking
sugar at midnight. All these led him to confide in me about the incident and the repercussion
that has disconcerted his life forever. However, he spoke n the condition of not divulging the
details to his mother. Although, this bargaining of favour to elicit information may seem
unethical but I felt that considering the biography of the client, this was the best possible
method.
The other incident that have left a profound effect on my psyche as a professional
social worker was back in my hometown in Africa. This was before when I shifted to
Australia. My ethical approach in dealing with the orphans of Daughter of Mary of Mercy led