Analysis of an Ethical or Value Dilemma in Social Work Placement

This report reflects on an ethical dilemma encountered during a social work placement at Headspace, a mental health provider for young people. The student identifies confidentiality as a major ethical challenge, particularly when balancing the need to protect young people with the principles of the AASW Code of Ethics. The report explores the conflict between confidentiality and other ethical principles, such as preventing harm to patients, and the impact of personal values and biases. The student details the process of analyzing the ethical dilemma, including identifying the problem, gathering relevant data, comparing the issue with the Code of Ethics, and considering different courses of action. The report proposes solutions such as using lockable document storage and providing training to staff. The student emphasizes the importance of social work values like social justice, human rights, and integrity in establishing an ethical framework and ensuring proper consent processes. The report concludes with a commitment to prioritizing patient confidentiality and upholding ethical principles in practice.

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

REFLECTION 2
that what is in the control or what is not in control to provide healthcare services to the young
people. Further, I will ask for the resources to get solution. In different terms, I will ask to the
supervisors, special education directors as well as other staff about the ideas, concepts, and
clarification along with information (Hughes, 2016). Subsequently, I will prepare the list of
possible actions along with adverse or positive consequences. As per the collected data, I will
also make plan that I can defend workwise along with morally so that I will be able to meet the
requirements of the Code of Ethics (AASW, 2010). As per these planning, I will be able to
secure delivery of confidential documents to maintain the confidentiality of data of young
patients. The best option is to use lockable document storage cabinet. In this way, I will be able
to ensure that the personal data given by the patients should only be shared with the individuals
who require to get knowledge about this.
In addition of the above, I realized that there are some risks in implementing these
options or taking course of actions. It is found by me that sometimes delivery of confidential
documents can create problem. The reason is that while we send the email, the messages leave
the server of email providers and travels all over net. In this way, it can say that the susceptibility
of email is the key reason why sensitive information should not be exchanged with this method.
To solve this problem, it is required to give proper training to the employees or other staff to deal
this issue effectively along with properly.
As the social worker, I felt that it is essential to focus on the certain social work values,
principles as well as theories. These social work theories and values include significance of
human relationship, social justice, competence, services, worth and dignity of individuals along
with integrity. I found that the mental health providers should work for achieving the social
justice along with human rights throughout the social development, systemic changes, social

REFLECTION 3
changes, advocacy, along with moral behaviour of research. I think that it needs to address and
restore unfairness and injustice that affect life of young people, group of young people and
socially disadvantaged people.
In addition, I will be able to decision the course of action. I think that my decision will be
to give priority to the confidentiality of documents of patients. I will ensure that everyone
including staff is following the principles of social justice, human rights, integrity, services,
competence along with dignity and worth of individuals (Thompson & van Vliet, 2018). In this
way, I will use these relevant theories in establishing the ethical framework. In the ethical
framework, I will ensure that proper process of getting consent is following. I will also consider
the perspective of young people while deciding the ethical framework. Thus, I will focus on the
policy implications and laws related to privacy as well as confidentiality.

REFLECTION 4
References
Hughes, M. (2016). Ethics in organizations’. Rethinking Ethics and Values in Social Work.
London, England: Palgrave, 180-194.
Patil, T., & Ennis, G. M. (2018). Critically reflecting on the Australian Association of Social
Workers Code of Ethics: Learning from a social work field placement. British Journal of
Social Work, 48(5), 1370-1387.
Thompson, K., & van Vliet, P. (2018). Critical reflection on the ethics of
mindfulness. Australian social work, 71(1), 120-128.