Ethics, Values, Legislation: Social Work Practice Through Case Study

This case study report delves into the ethical and legal dimensions of social work practice, using the case of the Slater family to illustrate key concepts. It explores the interplay between personal and professional values, philosophical ideas in resolving ethical dilemmas, and the link between ethics, values, and professional codes of practice. The report also examines the contextual link between legislation, such as the Human Rights Act, Children Acts, Care Act, and Mental Health Acts, and ethical social work practice, demonstrating how social workers apply these laws in interventions. The analysis highlights the challenges and responsibilities of social workers in safeguarding vulnerable individuals, particularly children, and ensuring their well-being within the framework of legal and ethical guidelines. The case underscores the importance of integrated approaches involving various professionals and the need for clear communication and information sharing to provide effective support.

Running head: ETHICS AND VALUES IN SOCIAL WORK
Ethics and Values in Social Work
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ETHICS AND VALUES IN SOCIAL WORK
Introduction
This paper is a case study based report comprising of values, ethics and principles
from a set of perspectives. When shaping the discussion, report highlights few legislations
and their usage to real world facts. Purpose of the report is to determine the application and
implication of legislations and their usage to social, personal and professional values. In
general, report consists of three different questions and sub questions revolving around social,
philosophical, ethical and other relevant aspects associated with reality (Banks 2012).
Discussion is built upon the issues found in the case of children’s social care duty team.
Report starts with providing a detailed concept of personal and professional values and their
relationship with each other.
Personal Values
Personal values, in general, are the expression of what and how an individual consider
something to be most significant for him/her. A value could determine the worth of
something and in such case things that individual like and dislike. Personal values, in general,
are the things that are significant to people, the characteristics as well as behaviour that
motivate people and guide their decision. Personal values are fundamental principles,
qualities and standards that an individual or a group of individual may hold in high regard.
These values could guide the way people live their lives and the decisions that they make
(Reamer 2013.). However, it is worth stating that a value is generally formed by a particular
belief that is associated to the fundamental of an idea. Chen et al (2014) stated that some
individuals could observe a great value in saving world rainforest; nonetheless, an individual
who depends upon the logging of a forest for their duty or job could not place the same value
on forest as an individual who wish to save it. Thus, it can be mentioned that values can

2ETHICS AND VALUES IN SOCIAL WORK
influence many of the judgments that people make and have an impact on the support we give
clients.
Professional values
Professional values are at the core of the standards and the same values are often
reflected across the standards. Hence, the values are complex as well as they want to shape
who are as professional. On the other side, as stated by Beckett, Maynard and Jordan (2017)
professional values are the guiding beliefs and principles that influence work behaviour. It
has been identified that professional values are conventionally an extension of personal
values like honesty, generosity as well as helpfulness. So, while these values may change
over time across different life events, the core values of the individuals could remain the
same. As commented by Parrott (2014) Even though some values are considered more
significant than others in some particular professions, there could be some universal values
that should be and conventional are, held and applied often in all of them. However, there are
some profession values such as accountability and accountability is often considered as the
fundamental professional values that any individual could hold onto. For example, an
individual should take the responsibility of his/her own action; particularly if the individual is
a leader, he/she needs to take care of the actions of team.
Relationship between the two
It is highly essential that there should be a healthy balance between personal and
professional values which social workers should consider because it is natural social workers
to experience conflicts between these two values lie in the fact that personal values can
influence the professional values. This could happen because naturally personal values are
the core values which an individual may consider to be worthy and important throughout
his/her life. Problem occurs not just with the conflict but it could happen also with the

3ETHICS AND VALUES IN SOCIAL WORK
conflict between personal and professional values if there are diverse needs of service users.
Nonetheless, professional values often help to determine a how social worker should act as
professional practitioner. To avoid conflict every social worker individual should verify their
personal values to find the computability with professional values before taking a decision.
Moreover, if these two values are paradoxical in nature, professional values can control
personal values as individuals keep their personal values aside to conduct themselves in the
most appropriate professional manner. As held by Kelley (2013), it is particularly identified
when personal and professional values of a social worker could come under a conflict is if
they were to be a religious individual who usually do not believe in homosexuality and they
are involved in a work with a gay couple.; hence, their personal; values could lead to the
action of treating them inappropriately compared to other individuals. Here, the professional
values play the major role of guiding them towards the right path considering diversity and
treating people in an equal manner.
How the issues influence the selected case study
The case study clarifies the fact that there are certain issues related to both personal
and personal values. If it is considered from a personal value perspective, then it is worth
stating that despite the challenge of running a house with limited financial backup. Darren the
father of Jasmine and Lottie is not responsible enough towards his children. Firstly, major
elements of personal values are equality, respect, positivity, justice and honesty. However,
the case of Sally and Darren towards their children indicates there is a clear state of positivity
towards the action of negligence. For example, if it considered on the basis of justice, it is
worth stating that parents should not let a 3 year old child use toaster, which indicates a sign
of negligence. Similarly, the use of alcohol and Marijuana in the house where there are young
kids does not justify respect and positivity. Conversely, a major principle of a professional
values is that it is developed to guide individual on how to act in a professional practice. This

4ETHICS AND VALUES IN SOCIAL WORK
means these principles also create impact on others; so when the heads of the family is not
able to lead the family members in an ethical manner, conflict of mismanagement often
occurs. On the basis of these two values, it can be mentioned that Darren and Sally’s action
towards the use of alcohol and Marijuana in house certainly cause significant harm to their
children. So, if the principles of Children Act 2004 are considered, the abusive issues can be
declared as negligence to child care and abuse.
Philosophical ideas and concepts help to solve ethical conflicts or dilemmas within social
work
It has been identified that the word ethic is referred to a particular system or a code of
morals of a specific profession. Thus, ethical work practice in a social reasoning in social
work practice which means being able to create distinction between right and wrong in how
an individual performs the practice of social work. In addition, there are ethical as well as
unethical elements of social work; non-ethical element includes several aspects of clinical
practice; hence specific interventions, process notes determine where to conduct individual
practice or determine whether or not to gather fees or techniques of assessment. Conversely,
ethical elements of social work involve question as well as concerns regarding the obligation
as well as duties of social work about what could be morally appropriate or wrong in
performing one’s practice. It is highly essential to keep in mind that all elements of practice
could have implications which are known to be ethical not all elements of practice include
ethical dilemmas. Blau (2017) mentioned that one significant measure of ethical conduct in
any profession is the continuity between what a practitioner is supposed to do as well as what
is actually is done. However, the major issue is that what a social worker is supposed to do is
not always evident or is it one dimensional even when the issues are clear. Due to the
complexity of what social workers do; hence all sort of interests affected by an ethical
challenge is not supposed to invariably be recorded. Nonetheless, ethical practice require that

5ETHICS AND VALUES IN SOCIAL WORK
they could be satisfactory reckoned with, irrespective of the fact of what may be considered
as a successful consequence, as the fulfilment of ethical responsibility.
Link between ethics, values and professional code of practices
The objective of the Learning Disability Partnership professionals is to bring the
people and their families having learning disabilities together to ensure the application and
implementation of local learning disability strategy (Lacey 2013). The professionals address
issues pertaining to negligence of the families toward their dependants, service provider or
carer issues and provides report pertaining to such victims (Rochdale.gov.uk 2018). The
professionals brings health specialists and social workers together for people with learning
disabilities or neglect issues. They have a close working relation with the mental health
workers. The professionals provide access to specialist nurses psychologists, therapists,
psychiatrist, allied health professionals and other carers who helps the victims as per their
needs and disabilities (Cambridgeshire County Council 2018).
The National Health Services (NHS) is one of the largest European organisations,
which is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the best healthcare
organisations in the world. The Healthcare Act 1999 empowers the NHS to work along with
other organisations; however, there are evidences that shows the prevalence of inter-
professional and multi-professional barriers still exits. Since the advent of Every Child
Matters, local authorities have been developing new approaches to share information called
‘information hub’ among themselves pertaining to the victims who are in dire need for
support and assistance. Effective and clear communication between the victims and the social
service professionals are required for providing successful service to the disables. The
Department of Education of UK held in a research that a disable person is likely to come
across at least 10 different social service professionals in their lifetime, the discontinuity of

6ETHICS AND VALUES IN SOCIAL WORK
such professionals giving rise to various issues to the victims. The government, therefore,
strives to promote an integrated approach for social care and health related services. Services
such as education, employment, training, medical, housing need to come together and
maintain a parity of availability of information regarding clients, in addition to securing their
confidentiality.
A different approach to ethics and moral value can be found as different professionals
have different ethical and moral values, which they apply in their services. The paternalistic
approach of medical practitioner in comparison to the approach of a public health worker is
completely different. Studies show that inter-professional involvement has a high chance of
professional autonomy and abuse of power when the professionals are challenged. The
professionals face several ethical dilemmas however; working together facilitates them to
share knowledge and skill. Values such as integrity, advocacy and altruism are essential in
the field of health and social services and the professionals are expected to abide by their
code of conduct (Burke and Hodapp 2014).
Impact of these debates on case study
In the given case, the Learning Disability Partnership professionals need to ensure
Jasmin and Lottie’s safety by bringing charges of negligence against Sally and Darren. The
professionals need to carry forward with a philanthropic approach towards the neglected
children who are a victim of abuse by their own parents. The social worker may approach the
case based on home remedy where the children could be made to stay at their home where
they would feel safe and secured, under the supervision of a professional or social worker.
However, there are different contentions as to the approach of rehabilitation and
remedying the neglected children. Many psychologists and therapists are of the view to send
the children away from the disturbed atmosphere where they were abused so that it may help

7ETHICS AND VALUES IN SOCIAL WORK
them to get the terrifying incidents out of their memory. Nonetheless, under both the
approaches, the neglectful parents are to be held liable for being negligent and abusive
towards their children. Therefore, the professionals of the social services would approach the
matter in accordance with the ethics, moral value and code of conduct of their profession.
Contextual link between legislations and ethical social work practice
In United Kingdom there are several legislations that strive to protect child abuse in
and around the borders of the nation. The Children and Young Persons Act 1933, being one
of the oldest legislation that’s tries to protect children in the UK against abuse exploitation
and negligence is still under force. It gives a list of the offences that occurs against children
and are categorised as Schedule One Offence.
The Children Act 1989 being one of the most potent legislation battling against child
abuse, strives to protect the rights of the children and secure them against neglect and abuses.
Section 3 of the Children Act 1989 States about the principal of parental responsibility where
it is said that it is the duty of the parents or family to preserve the safety and security of a
child where he or she lives. The principal of parental responsibility also comprises the fact
that it is the duty of the parents to secure the property of the child if any. While Section 47 of
the above-mentioned act notifies the local authorities to enquire into matters in which they
might have reasonable doubts pertaining to the safety of a child. The local authorities have
been vested with the duty to help the underprivileged children and the families who are in
dire need of assistance.
The Education Act 2002 ensures that the local education institutions and school mast
ensure and promote the safety welfare and security of the children. The social workers and
learning disability partnership professionals must ensure the same pertaining to the
educational facilities of the child in question.

8ETHICS AND VALUES IN SOCIAL WORK
The Children Act 2004 does not amend the act of 1989 March however it integrates
the services of the different organisations for the welfare of the children. The Act ensures that
the local authorities are vested with duties for appointing disability professionals all social
workers for the underprivileged or abused children or for their families who are going
through financial or psychological turmoil.
The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 repaired the gap, which used
to facilitate the offenders to escape from the clutch of law by blaming each other for the
abuse or neglect of a child. However, this particular is legislation strives to include an
offender who have affected the harm on a child or allowed another person to cause harm to
such child. This Act bring charges against a family member of the child who had the
knowledge about the vulnerability and potential danger of a child pertaining to any matter,
yet such family member choose not to take a precautionary measure against search
vulnerability or danger. While, the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims (Amendment)
Act of 2012 amended the Act of 2004 and also included those who not only brings harm to a
child but also allows another person to cause such harm.
How social workers apply legislations to intervene
The Learning Disability Partnership Professionals and social workers takes the
reference of the Schedule One Offences laid down under the Children And Young Persons
Act 1933 to point out the different offences and the offenders who causes home to the
children. The paramountcy principle of the Children Act 1989 helps the social workers to put
the welfare of the children at the pedestal of their priority and act accordingly in order to
safeguard the interests of the children (NSPCC 2018). While, section 47 of the Children Act
1989 help the local authorities to look into matters where they could possibly find a
reasonable doubt regarding the welfare and safety of a child. The social service workers and

9ETHICS AND VALUES IN SOCIAL WORK
learning disability professionals are also endowed with the duty of helping the abused and
neglected children and the abusive families under section 17 of the Act (NSPCC 2018). The
public authorities are notified to follow the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 where
they are directed to give children the status of persons, as equal to adults. The social workers
and professionals would take the note of the Education Act 2002 to make sure that the
children are facilitated with proper education facilities for overall growth and mental
development (NSPCC 2018). The workers or professionals of the local authorities who work
for the welfare of the children would derive their responsibilities from the Children Act 2004,
the amended version of the 1989 Act, which could be held liable for appointing directors to
provide children's services for the abused children in question. The professionals and social
workers are directed to derive the definition and meaning of the word ‘harm’ under Section
120 of the Children and Adoption Act 2006, which includes the mental or emotional abuse of
a child when she witnesses domestic violence without being a part of it directly. The social
workers as directed by the Children and Young Persons Act 2008, which recommends them
to provide good care and better services to the children who are being abused, by their
families or carer. The local authorities and the social workers are directed under this
legislation to make a note of the death of the children and report them to the Local
Safeguarding Children Board (Citizensadvice.org.uk 2018). Ultimately, the social workers
draw references and instances from the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 and
2012 (NSPCC 2018). These legislations help the social worker to identify the probable risks
which the children might be going through.
Therefore to conclude, the professional and social workers must imbibe professional
and personal values that include ethical and moral values while dealing with sensitive issues
like child abuse. They must approach the issues with morality in accordance with their
professional code of conduct for providing the best and quality service for the welfare of the

10ETHICS AND VALUES IN SOCIAL WORK
children. The social workers must maintain a balance between their professional and personal
values which might contradict at times. A social worker must never be judgmental towards a
child or a family in question instead should extend their helping hand in times of need. In the
given case Jasmine and Lottie requires immediate intervention and attention by social
workers who would understand their needs and would supply necessary services accordingly.
The abusive parents, Darren and Sally should be charged with the breach of duty of care and
negligence towards their children for causing harm and allowing others to cause harm to
them. The social workers would be liable to refer to the above mentioned legislation of the
UK for safeguarding the children's welfare safety and security.

11ETHICS AND VALUES IN SOCIAL WORK
References
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Blau, P., 2017. Exchange and power in social life. Routledge.
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developmental disabilities to family–school partnerships. Mental Retardation, 52(1), pp.13-
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Children Act 1989
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