Identify at least two ethical principles in the NASW Code of Ethics that you most strongly support, and why.
The NASW Code of Ethics encompasses so many standards that are essential in the practice setting when working with clients and fellow colleagues. Maintaining these standards ensures that each member involved the intervention or treatment process is treated fairly and justly. When I think about ethical responsibilities to clients, I think that most importantly it is vital that the social worker be competent in their knowledge in order to assess the client’s situation accurately and provide a strategy for change. Throughout history there was a time when competence was lacking due to the stigma associated with mental illness and social welfare. It wasn’t understood how critical proper care was to the lives of those in need. Also we find ourselves in situations today where agencies are understaffed and workers are overwhelmed with enormous caseloads. At a macro level it is important that social workers are competent in the systems approach and are knowledgeable in current research and practice-based knowledge (Netting, Kettner, McMurtry, & Thomas, 2012). It is so important that these issues be addressed in order to ensure that the social work field consists of only competent social work professionals. Along with competence the standard of privacy and confidentiality I feel it is important to the success of a worker-client relationship. Without establishing privacy and confidentiality when working with clients there would be no trust in the relationship and without trust it would be difficult to accurately assess the situation, problems and change needed. With the standard of privacy and confidentiality comes the standard of informed consent. I think that when initially meeting a client it is important to establish informed consent and assure the client that what they disclose in confidential. Beginning a worker-client relationship in this way will provide a trusting environment for the client.
As critical thinking is not just thinking, but thinking which entails self-improvement, discuss the ways in which your judgment, problem solving, and decision making has improved since your understanding of the application of critical thinking to your learning and practice of social work.
The application of critical thinking in important in any situation in the social work field and at any level; micro, mezzo or macro. It is important as a social worker to be able to critically examine a problem, evaluate possible solutions and ways to effectively implement them in order to have the most favorable outcome. Without critical thinking when faced with a dilemma we would surely not be able to assess the problem in its entirety nor be able to fully examine the problem and its possible solutions. My judgment, problem solving and decision making has become much more mature since gaining a better understanding of critical thinking in the practice of social work. I am know educated in the importance of critical thinking and understanding the issues at hand from a systems perspective in order to understand how each dilemma and each possible solution would affect the situation as a whole. As discussed by Netting & Kettner et al. (2012) decision making and problem solving come into play when problems emerge and deadlines have not been met, I feel that with my expanding understanding and continuous education I am able to approach decision making and problem solving in a more competent way, taking into consideration all aspects of the problems and their solutions.
Bibliography Netting, F. E., Kettner, P. M., McMurtry, S. L., & Thomas, M. L. (2012). Social Work Macro Practice. Pearson.
The NASW Code of Ethics encompasses so many standards that are essential in the practice setting when working with clients and fellow colleagues. Maintaining these standards ensures that each member involved the intervention or treatment process is treated fairly and justly. When I think about ethical responsibilities to clients, I think that most importantly it is vital that the social worker be competent in their knowledge in order to assess the client’s situation accurately and provide a strategy for change. Throughout history there was a time when competence was lacking due to the stigma associated with mental illness and social welfare. It wasn’t understood how critical proper care was to the lives of those in need. Also we find ourselves in situations today where agencies are understaffed and workers are overwhelmed with enormous caseloads. At a macro level it is important that social workers are competent in the systems approach and are knowledgeable in current research and practice-based knowledge (Netting, Kettner, McMurtry, & Thomas, 2012). It is so important that these issues be addressed in order to ensure that the social work field consists of only competent social work professionals. Along with competence the standard of privacy and confidentiality I feel it is important to the success of a worker-client relationship. Without establishing privacy and confidentiality when working with clients there would be no trust in the relationship and without trust it would be difficult to accurately assess the situation, problems and change needed. With the standard of privacy and confidentiality comes the standard of informed consent. I think that when initially meeting a client it is important to establish informed consent and assure the client that what they disclose in confidential. Beginning a worker-client relationship in this way will provide a trusting environment for the client.
As critical thinking is not just thinking, but thinking which entails self-improvement, discuss the ways in which your judgment, problem solving, and decision making has improved since your understanding of the application of critical thinking to your learning and practice of social work.
The application of critical thinking in important in any situation in the social work field and at any level; micro, mezzo or macro. It is important as a social worker to be able to critically examine a problem, evaluate possible solutions and ways to effectively implement them in order to have the most favorable outcome. Without critical thinking when faced with a dilemma we would surely not be able to assess the problem in its entirety nor be able to fully examine the problem and its possible solutions. My judgment, problem solving and decision making has become much more mature since gaining a better understanding of critical thinking in the practice of social work. I am know educated in the importance of critical thinking and understanding the issues at hand from a systems perspective in order to understand how each dilemma and each possible solution would affect the situation as a whole. As discussed by Netting & Kettner et al. (2012) decision making and problem solving come into play when problems emerge and deadlines have not been met, I feel that with my expanding understanding and continuous education I am able to approach decision making and problem solving in a more competent way, taking into consideration all aspects of the problems and their solutions.
Bibliography Netting, F. E., Kettner, P. M., McMurtry, S. L., & Thomas, M. L. (2012). Social Work Macro Practice. Pearson.