Ethical Considerations in Social Work: Foster Care Placement Analysis

This report examines an ethical dilemma faced by a social worker concerning the placement of indigenous children in foster care. The scenario presents a conflict between placing children in the nearest available foster home versus prioritizing placement within an indigenous family to maintain cultural connections. The report references the code of ethics for social workers, emphasizing the importance of cultural sensitivity, client well-being, and the creation of a culturally safe environment. The analysis suggests placing the child in an indigenous family, even if it requires placement in another state, to best serve the child's needs and adhere to ethical guidelines. The report references academic sources to support its arguments and provides a clear framework for ethical decision-making in similar situations.

Code Of Ethics For Social Workers
Introduction
 Social workers are people who promote a social change, help in
solving problems in human relationships and empower individual to
make a change to enhance well being (Greenslade, McAuliffe and
Chenoweth 2015, p 422-437)
 Social workers in Australia acknowledge the Australian indigenous
people a, pay respect to their values and their enduring culture
(Goldingay and Boddy 2017, p 209-220)
Ethical dilemma
As a social worker, it is your responsibility to
search for emergency foster care homes for
children. Children from rural indigenous families
should be placed in foster homes of indigenous
families (Thiroux and Krasemann 2015, p 19-31).
The ethical dilemma arises when the nearest
indigenous family is in another state and placing
the children in a non-indigenous family may raise
cultural issues
Appropriate response
 According to the general ethical
responsibilities in the code of ethics for
social workers, the social worker should
obtain a working knowledge of the client’s
cultural affiliations and values. This code
also states that the social worker should
create an environment where the client
feels culturally safe.
 The responsibility to clients segment states
that the social worker should prioritize the
best interest of the client (Reamer 2017, p
148-159).
 In this ethical dilemma, the social worker
should place the child in the emergency
foster care of the home of the indigenous
family in the other state. The indigenous
family will be able to create an environment
where the child feels safe, which is a
priority for the child

References
Thiroux, P, J, Krasemann, W, K (2015), 11th edn, Pearsons, Boston
Greenslade, L., McAuliffe, D. and Chenoweth, L., (2015). Social
Workers' Experiences of Covert Workplace Activism. Australian
Social Work, 68(4), pp.422-437.
Goldingay, S. and Boddy, J., (2017). Preparing social work
graduates for digital practice: Ethical pedagogies for effective
learning. Australian Social Work, 70(2), pp.209-220.
Reamer, F.G., (2017). Evolving ethical standards in the digital
age. Australian Social Work, 70(2), pp.148-159.