Analyzing Ethical and Legal Aspects of Family Support Work

This case study delves into the ethical and legal complexities encountered by a family support worker. It addresses scenarios involving clients with mental health issues, mandatory reporting guidelines, and transgender rights, along with workplace safety concerns such as assault. The analysis includes identifying relevant legislations, such as the Practice Standards for Mental Health Social Workers, Sex Discrimination Act, and Crime Act, and proposes potential work practice improvements. The study also examines the ethical dilemmas faced when balancing client confidentiality with legal obligations, offering options and consequences for each. Ultimately, it emphasizes the importance of community service involvement and ethical support for colleagues in challenging situations. Desklib provides access to this document and other resources for students.

Cluster 2 Written
Project

Table of Contents
Part A...............................................................................................................................................3
1. What are the legislations/codes/standards that are required to work as family support
worker ....................................................................................................................................3
2. Ethical dilemma in present situation?.................................................................................3
3. Options available in this situation......................................................................................3
4. What are the possible consequences of each option?.........................................................4
5. How can you determine best course of action?..................................................................4
Part B...............................................................................................................................................4
1. The legislation applicable in the current situation..............................................................4
2. Determine two potential work practice for improvement..................................................4
3. Actions that will lead to improvement?..............................................................................4
Part C...............................................................................................................................................5
1. What legislation relates to this situation?...........................................................................5
2. What might your colleague need?......................................................................................5
3. How could you help your colleague?.................................................................................5
REFERNCES:..................................................................................................................................6
Books and Journals:................................................................................................................6
Online.....................................................................................................................................6

Part A
1. What are the legislations/codes/standards that are required to work as family support worker
It is important to note that there are various issues that are faced by parents and specially
with the people that have mental health issues. It is seen that they are unable to guide their
children in an effective manner . These people are unable to understand the moral values and
principles. They themselves face issue related to mental health and that has a negative impact on
their children. In this regard there are some legislations formulated by Government. The services
are provided by keeping in mind all the legislations, codes and standards (Practice Standards for
Mental Health Social Workers, 2014). All this will help to take suitable actions. It is seen that by
following those laws it is possible to help these people. The Practice Standards for Mental
Health Social Workers, 2014 is updated version of Mental Health Standard 2008. There is
discussion related to some practices that will help people suffering from mental health. The Code
of Ethics also define the moral principles such as honesty, integrity, professionalism as they help
in attaining ethical work and be accountable for the same. The Practice Standards 2013, show
the requirements related to professionals, accountable, effective requirement that help to work in
social context. Medicare Australia or another government program in Australia support the
mental health social worker and fund them. The legislations formulated for the social workers
professional body codes of practice. The code describes the standards of professional conduct
that are required and help in raising awareness.
Case Study
2. Ethical dilemma in present situation?
Ethical dilemma means that there is choice among the options available in which a person
has to choose the one and none of them overrides the other. It is necessary to follow the ethical
values (Girdhar, Srivastava and Sethi, 2020). In this situation the ethical dilemma is to either
share the event with community service or not. Mary is requesting not to tell the practice to the
community service. But it is necessary to report to the community services and it is in my
prescribed guidelines.
3. Options available in this situation
The following are the options available in this situation:

 The first option is to believe Mary and accept her request. The option is not to share the
event with community services.
 Another option is to work according to mandatory reporting guidelines and sharing the
event of Mary drinking again at last night with community services.
4. What are the possible consequences of each option?
 In the first option the consequence may be Mary will be happy and live with children that
may help her to leave the drugs. Also, there are chances that she will drink again and
think that no one will share it will community service. The children will also be happy if
the event will not be shared. But, it may cause problem for them as their mother face
mental issue after drinking. I may also get punished if I will not share the information
with community service.
 As per the second option the community service will take action and Mary will be upset
from me as I did not accept her request. The children will also be upset but at least they
will be safe. Along with that I will also be safe that I have done my work as per the
guidelines.
5. How can you determine best course of action?
The best course of action can be identified by sharing the case with community service.
They have their own policies and way of dealing with the situation. The community service will
find best solution to deal with the problem.
Part B
1. The legislation applicable in the current situation
The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (SDA), is a law that gives protection to transgender in
Australia. As per the law, no one can be discriminated on the basis of gender and the transgender
must be treated equally (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2018).
2. Determine two potential work practice for improvement
The two potential work practice improvements for the service are as follows:
1. To develop policy related to transgender people so that they can live effectively in the
service.
2. To formulate referrals list for transgender people. It will make easy to help them.

3. Actions that will lead to improvement?
To consult the head of department and professional policy makers to develop policies. Along
with it is necessary to provide emotional support and that will improve the situation. It is also
important to find a doctor that will help in the case and provide legal hormones.
Part C
1. What legislation relates to this situation?
Assault is treated as an offence in Australia that is covered under Crime Act, 1914 (The
meaning of Assault under Australian law, 2015). There are appropriate laws that safeguard the
individuals against assault. There is right to grievance that is provided by every organisation in
Australia (Cain, 2018). This law helps a person to share and complaint against any issue that is
being faced by them and is related to workplace. Work health and Safety Act, 2011 is an
important legislation that helps the organisation to keep each and every employee safe at
workplace.
2. What might your colleague need?
In this case, my colleague needs support as well as assistance. It is time to file a
complaint against the client and tell supervisor about the assault. This will help my colleague to
get justice as well as satisfaction. The support will help to cope up with the situation and sleep
freely.
3. How could you help your colleague?
I will spend time with him and assist him in forgetting the situation as it is important to
move on and forget what has happened. A support of friend is important and help to motivate a
person (Rana, Mukhtar and Mukhtar, 2020). Ethical and social support will help him to come out
of the situation and live freely.

REFERNCES:
Books and Journals:
Australian Human Rights Commission, 2018. Guidelines: Special measures under the Sex
Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth).
Cain, J., 2018. It’s time to confront student mental health issues associated with smartphones
and social media. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 82(7).
Giamos and et.al., 2017. Understanding campus culture and student coping strategies for mental
health issues in five Canadian colleges and universities. Canadian Journal of Higher
Education/Revue canadienne d'enseignement supérieur, 47(3), pp.136-151.
Girdhar, R., Srivastava, V. and Sethi, S., 2020. Managing mental health issues among elderly
during COVID-19 pandemic. J. Geriatr. Care Res, 7, pp.32-35.
Park-Lee and et.al., 2018. Receipt of services for substance use and mental health issues among
adults: Results from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Rana, W., Mukhtar, S. and Mukhtar, S., 2020. Mental health of medical workers in Pakistan
during the pandemic COVID-19 outbreak. Asian journal of psychiatry, 51, p.102080.
Online
Practice Standards for Mental Health Social Workers 2014. [Online] Available through:
<https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/6739>
The meaning of Assault under Australian law, 2015 [Online] Available through:
<https://www.bsglaw.net/the-meaning-of-assault-under-australian-law/>