Social Work: Ethical Principles, Values, and Professional Practice

This essay explores the core values and ethical principles that underpin the profession of social work. It emphasizes the importance of social justice, human rights, and the inherent worth of every individual. The essay discusses the role of social workers as agents of change, highlighting their responsibility to address complex human interactions and promote the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. It delves into the significance of maintaining confidentiality, respecting client choices, and fostering collaborative relationships with service users and other professionals. The essay also covers the essential knowledge and skills required for effective social work practice, including an understanding of social theories, diverse cultural contexts, and relevant laws and regulations. It underscores the importance of ethical conduct, professional boundaries, and the development of trustworthy relationships with clients to ensure the delivery of comprehensive and impactful care. References from sources like the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) are used to support the discussion.

Running head: SOCIAL WORK
SOCIAL WORK
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Social work is a noble profession where social workers help in promoting the social
change, problem-solving in human relationships and also at the same time ensures empowerment
and liberation of the people. Their main duty is to result in an overall enhancement of well being
of individuals and also the society (Cdn.basw.co.uk, 2014). Not only that, the social workers use
theories of human behaviors and social systems and thereby intervene at the point where people
interact with their environments. Two main principles of social work are very integral to this
profession. These are the social justice and maintenance of human rights (John 2017).
Social work is a profession which addresses multiple as well as the complex transactions
between human beings and the surrounding environment. Its main objective is to help all people
to develop their full potential and at the same time enrich their lives and prevent any kinds of
dysfunction with the present lives (Cdn.basw.co.uk, 2014). The social workers mainly act as
changing agents in the societies whose main motive remains problem solving followed by
bringing changes for the betterment of the society. This profession mainly underpins interrelated
systems of ethics, principle based values to bring happiness not only to individual lives but also
among families and communities they serve (Brave and Preston-shoot 2016).
One of the most important values that underpin social work is the maintenance of human
rights. This service provided by them should be based on respect for the inherent worth as well
as dignity for the person, which is based on Universal Declaration of Human Rights published by
United Nations (Cdn.basw.co.uk, 2014). It becomes the duty of the social workers to promote
welfare of societies by upholding the dignity as well as well being. They should support and
respect the choices of the people and maintain their rights to make their own choices and
decisions (John 2017). Allowing the rights of the people for participation and empowering them

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by identifying their strengths are extremely important for maintaining their human rights (Hpc-
uk.org, 2017).
Another important area that needs to be mentioned in discussing the values harbored by
social workers is social justice. Social workers must inculcate the values of promoting social
justice not only among the people they work but also within the society (Brave and Preston-shoot
2016). The social workers should maintain their responsibility to prevent the occurrence of any
kind of discrimination on the basis of different factors (John 2017). These may be based on
ability, sex, marital status, culture, gender, political opinion, skin colors, socio-economic status,
sexual orientations, physical characteristics and many others. Social workers should develop the
capability to not only recognize the diversities present among the different individuals, families,
groups and communities but also to respect them accordingly (Brave and Preston-shoot 2016).
Fair distribution of resources should be ensured by the social workers. Social workers should
also have the duty to report any unfair means of distribution of resources or make the higher
authorities aware if any illegal, unfair or oppressive activities are being carried on which is
harming the well fare of the human beings and the society (John 2017). They have the duty to
prevent any conditions that challenge social injustice like social exclusion, social stigmatization
and others. They need to work individually as well as collectively with others to challenge these
conditions and overcome them with proper interventions.
The health and care professional council (HCPC) had also put forward many important
standards of proficiency. This had been found to be extremely helpful in guiding the social
workers towards their best practice. They need to act in a way which supports diversity in the
society and the community. For this, the social workers need to reflect and take account of the
impact of inequality, discrimination as well as disadvantages faced by certain people in the

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society. Then they should take appropriate steps that would help them, the society and also the
other people to overcome the harsh effects of situations. They should also empower them and
lead a better life (Hpc-uk.org, 2017). Practicing in a non-discriminatory manner and
understanding the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of the clients are some ethical
virtues that need to be maintained by every social worker.
Working collectively is extremely important for the social workers to achieve their goal
of developing a happy nation. They need to develop and build a proper professional relationship
with different service users and also with carers and colleagues and act collaboratively with
others (Cdn.basw.co.uk, 2014). They should work collaboratively with service users giving them
the complete freedom to make informed decisions regarding their needs, risks, circumstances,
preferred options and also resources (Brave and Preston-shoot 2016). They also need to work
with service users ultimately helping in individual growth, developing independence to assist
them and also to work effectively as a part of the multidisciplinary teams. They need to establish
proper partnership roles with others like working with other agencies and roles at the same time
of offering help to the clients (Hpc-uk.org, 2017).. They need to be able to understand the
emotional dynamics of interactions with service users and carers so that they can emotionally
connect with their clients and develop intervention which not only ensure their physical well
being but also ensures mental well being as well (John 2017).
Other very important aspect that is intricately associated with their profession and ensures
a better service delivery is the proper development of the key concepts of social theories and
knowledge base (John 2017). Some of the important knowledge and skills required for being
expert social workers also need to be developed. Social workers should be aware of the different
social and organizational contexts as well as settings within which the profession operates (Hpc-

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uk.org, 2017). They should also be aware of the different changes in demography and culture and
their impact on their profession. Not only that, they should also be aware of the roles of other
professions, practitioners, organizations in health, social care and justice where it needs to be
practiced (Cdn.basw.co.uk, 2014). They should learn the social work theory, social work models
and interventions, proper allocation of different laws, human growth and development across
different life spans. They should also learn about the psychological, sociological, and
physiological as well as social and personal development and functioning in order to ensure the
best service delivery (Hpc-uk.org, 2017). Moreover concepts of participation, involvement,
empowerment, advocacy and co-production should be developed.
From the entire discussion, it becomes clear that every social workers need to develop a
particular set of values which would guide them through the correct path of providing service to
humanity. Properly maintaining professional boundary and developing trustworthy relationships
with the clients are extremely important. It is very important for the social workers to overcome
the issues of discrimination and treat all the clients with equal respect. Maintaining their privacy
and confidentiality are other ethical underpinnings which they should maintain in their work.
They should learn to work with diverse people in a way by which they can work according their
dignity and choices and thereby provide importance to human rights. Moreover, it is also
important for them to work collaboratively with different stakeholders like clients, practitioners,
families, communities, nurses and others so that the best comprehensive care can be provide to
the people. Ensuring social justice by preventing any practices of social exclusion, seclusion and
others need to be ascertained. Moreover maintaining human dignity by allowing the client to
make choices and respecting them of their culture and traditions are essential part of their work.

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By proper ethical practices and nurturing correct values and professionalism, social worker may
provide care which can make every society healthy and successful of leading best lives.

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References:
Braye, S. and Preston-Shoot, M., 2016. Practising social work law. Palgrave Macmillan.
Cdn.basw.co.uk. (2014). The Code of Ethics for Social Work Statement of Principles. [online]
Available at: http://cdn.basw.co.uk/upload/basw_95243-9.pdf [Accessed 10 Nov. 2017].
Hpc-uk.org. (2017). Social workers in England. [online] Available at:
http://www.hpc-uk.org/assets/documents/10003B08Standardsofproficiency-
SocialworkersinEngland.pdf [Accessed 10 Nov. 2017].
Johns, R., 2017. Using the law in social work. Learning Matters.