MSWPG7102 - Exploring Ethics & Values in Social Work: A Journal

This reflective journal delves into the critical role of communication skills, personal values, and ethical considerations within social work and human services. It explores the formation of personal values and their impact on the role of a social worker, examining compatibility and potential tensions with the AASW code of ethics. The journal also reflects on the concept of unconditional positive regard, discussing its challenges and practical implications in social work practice. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of ethical awareness and creating a supportive environment for individuals, while acknowledging the complexities of navigating personal and professional beliefs in social work.

Communication Skills in Social Work and Human Services
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Introduction
The aim of social work professional is actually to strengthen the weaker section of the
social community, which are living in a very poor situation. It is very important for the social
worker to understand the basic nature of the current environment and the force related to them
(Soltani & Maupetit, 2015). In this kind of work moral value and ethics plays the major
contribution in the life of the social worker in order to handle issues related to the society. The
social workers should have a better understanding of cultures and ethical difference among the
different people which are living in the same society.
My personal values and formation
Values are an important part of my life as there is the portion of my upbringing. My
thoughts and action are all dependent on them. I believe that moral values and ethics have a
major impact on any person's behaviour, in fact, it governs the behaviour. My values and ethics
are all gifts from my family which has to nurture it from time to time. My values and ethics are
direct my behaviour to promote social justice, treat everyone with equality, ready to help others,
be truthful and respect others opinion (Chell et. al., 2016). My family has complete believe that if
we want that others should give us respect; it is our duty to earn that respect with the help of our
actions. It is known to me that in case of values and ethics our personal and professional life may
conflict because what is ethical for personal life can be unethical for professional especially
when it is the situation of a social worker. Hence I try to connect my upbringing values with my
social work so that I can form a balance between my personal and professional life (Greene,
2017). I believe that my social environment just as religion and culture have directed me to act in
certain ways towards other persons. Earlier homosexuality practices were prohibited in my
religion and thus it has created a stereotype and prejudice against homosexuality. But as a social
worker, it is my duty to understand the feeling of another person instead of prejudging them. We
should understand that every person is different and so is their thinking process and we cannot
force anyone to think or behave in a certain way (Valentine & Fleischman, 2008). In such cases
being a social worker, I should see things related to mankind and must modify my values and
ethics according to this changing world.
AASW code of ethics fits with my values and ethics

AASW is also known as Australian association of social workers. AASW code of ethics
basically focuses on the aspects related to social work. Its main purpose is to market respect for
persons, equal social justice and professional integrity in the society. AASW act as the guidance
for my work as a social worker for serving the society (Hugman, 2008). It is the AASW code of
ethics which has brought change in some of my beliefs and thinking process. Now I am more
concern about respect for human dignity and the values that it will bring to the society. I feel that
it has become my first priority to provide social justice to every person in this world. As per
AASW while working as the social worker, it becomes very important to understand professional
boundaries in this kind of work because in many cases understanding of ethics become different
for different persons. Let us take the example of two people in an organization, one is employee
and other is the manager (Rice & McAuliffe, 2009). The manager has every right to modify his
as well as employees work as per situation but in case of employee he/she can alter his work but
is not able to alter or modify work of his manager. Hence, it becomes significant for me to
understand the limits of my social work so that I may not fall in unethical practices knowing it as
my personal goal for bringing change in the society. As per AASW being a social worker many
times I have to face conflicts of interest which can arise in relation to emotions, feelings,
involuntary client or clients, unbiased judgment and financial aspects (O'leary, Tsui & Ruch,
2012). As a social worker, it becomes imperative for me to ensure that my actions are not
inclined towards my own personal gain in the shadow of doing social work.
Unconditional positive regard for the other as the core ethical practice and challenges
Unconditional positive regards basically focus on the huge resources inside an individual
which helps the individual to bring necessary alteration or change in their behaviour, concepts,
and attitudes according to the present situations. It was a very useful concept given by Carl
Rogers for caring about social work (Edvardsson, Winblad & Sandman, 2008). For the person
like me, unconditional positive regard concept is very essential for my growth in this sector
because it directs a person towards taking responsibility of another person. This is a kind of
support which every person is looking for improving his/her present situation. There are many
challenges which I have to face while practicing unconditional positive regards. Unconditional
positive regards concept says that I am the expert person in my work and know every aspect of
the other person but in reality, the person who has faced the situation knows all the answers. My

work is to bring out those answers from their mind which is not an easy task (Robbins, 2008).
Unconditional positive regard concept says that I should believe that whatever things have
happened with other person is all because of their behaviour but in reality, their behaviour is
actually the outcome of the environment in which they are living. Hence in this case as a social
worker either I have to follow this concept of unconditional positive regards or I should believe
on reality and should work on environment aspect of that person (Farber & Doolin, 2011).
Unconditional positive regards concept says that I should totally dedicate my work towards the
other person and always believe on them but if the client is that much clever that he//she will
actually move the whole case towards his/her favor, then in this case either I should work for the
personal interest of the other person or I should go with facts and evidence which can decide the
true face of the situation.
Conclusion
It is the values and ethics which actually governs the life of any person and provides them
the understanding of the difference between right and wrong aspects of the things which are
related to the society. Usually, values and ethics or any person are the series of experiences
which a person has faced from his/her birth and it is also the outcome of years of tradition that is
being followed by the person family, society in which they live and also the environment. But
when it comes to social work practice, sometimes it becomes very difficult to find out what is
right or what is wrong because of the clash between personal and professional believes and also
there is association which keeps on adding some more attachment related to ethics which keeps
on enlarging this difference line. As human is known as the social animal but there is one thing
which keeps them unique from animals is their thinking process. In general, every person in this
world is well able to understand the difference between right and wrong but it is the situation
which forces them to act unethically even knowing that their actions are not legal. Hence as a
social worker, I should focus on making an improved environment for the other person instead of
trying to make the person that which does not reveal his/her true identity.

References
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business ethics: Does social equal ethical? Journal of business ethics, 133(4),
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Edvardsson, D., Winblad, B., & Sandman, P. O. (2008). Person-centred care of people
with severe Alzheimer's disease: current status and ways forward. The Lancet
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Farber, B. A., & Doolin, E. M. (2011). Positive regard and affirmation. Psychotherapy
relationships that work: Evidence-based responsiveness, 2, 168-186.
Greene, R. R. (2017). Human Behavior Theory and Professional Social Work Practice.
In Human Behavior Theory and Social Work Practice (pp. 31-62). London, UK;
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Hugman, R. (2008). Social work values: Equity or equality? A response to
Solas. Australian Social Work, 61(2), 141-145.
O'leary, P., Tsui, M. S., & Ruch, G. (2012). The boundaries of the social work
relationship revisited: Towards a connected, inclusive and dynamic
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Rice, S., & McAuliffe, D. (2009). Ethics of the spirit: Comparing ethical views and
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Soltani, B., & Maupetit, C. (2015). Importance of core values of ethics, integrity and
accountability in the European corporate governance codes. Journal of
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Valentine, S., & Fleischman, G. (2008). Ethics programs, perceived corporate social
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References