Back to the Basics: Using Ethical Principles to Guide Practice

Transcription

1 Back to the Basics: Using Ethical Principles to Guide Practice Amy J. Barsanti, MSW 2012 Spring Continuing Education Conference for Social Workers Charleston, West Virginia April 25, 2012 The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

2 Workshop Objectives Participants will be able to Pause & think critically before acting Apply the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics to ethical dilemmas Use an ethical rules screen and an ethical decision making model to guide practice

3 Activity 1 Activity 1 Using the index card provided, write down 1 ethical dilemma you have observed or experienced during the last year. Write only the dilemmas, not the outcome. Turn in your card.

4 Introductions Introduce yourself to the members of your group. Share: Name Where you work Experience Level What do you need from this group in relation to ethics?

5 Activity 2 Working in your small group, make a list of unethical and unprofessional behaviors you have observed that have shocked or horrified you during the past year. Write them on the index card and Then turn in the card.

6 Discussion What do you think the reasons are that these behaviors are occurring? Presenter s work with students in field placement. Why present on this topic now? Is there a common factor that seems to be regardless of the specific ethical situation? What are you doing when you see unprofessional and/or unethical behavior? Do we have an obligation to do something when we see it? If so, what is our obligation? Does it depend on what the behavior is?

7 Critical Thinking Stretches Ethically Sound Practice Requires Critical Thinking Our Willingness to Question basic assumptions; Our ability to Imagine & Explore alternatives; Our Understanding of the importance of social & cultural contexts to human behavior; Our ability to Distinguish between questions of fact & questions of value; Our ability to Practice Caution when inferring causality or making generalizations. Walsh, J. (2010). Theories for direct social work practice (2 nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole.

8 Ethics are value and moral issues related to What is Right? What is Fair? What is Possible? What is Desired? What is Legal? What is Humane? Forrest, C. (2012, March). Today s Ethically-Charged Realities: Teaching Student Accountability in Field, Presentation at North Carolina Field Education Consortium Meetings, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC.

9 Ethically Sound Practice Requires Attention to Boundaries Bias Stereotyping Judgmental Attitudes Favoritism Competing Priorities Equitable Playing Field Competence-level Forrest, C. (2012, March). Today s Ethically-Charged Realities: Teaching Student Accountability in Field, Presentation at North Carolina Field Education Consortium Meetings, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC.

10 Activity 3 Dusting off the NASW Code of Ethics What are the 6 core values and corresponding ethical principles of the NASW Code of Ethics? Dissecting the Ethical Standards Ethical Responsibilities to Clients Ethical Responsibilities in Practice Settings Ethical Responsibilities as Professionals Ethical Responsibilities to the Social Work Profession Ethical Responsibilities to the Broader Society

11 Lowenberg & Dolgoff s Ethical Rules Screen Examine the Code of Ethics to determine if any of the Code rules are applicable. These rules take precedence over the worker s personal value system. If one or more Code rules apply, follow these. If the Code does not address itself to the specific problem, or if several Code rules provide conflicting guidance, use the Ethical Principles Screen. From Loewenberg, F.M. & Dolgoff, R. (2000). Ethical Decisions for Social Work Practice (6th ed.).itasca, Il.: FE Peacock.

12 Lowenberg & Dolgoff s Ethical Principles Screen To be used when an applicable code of ethics does not provide specific rules Principle of the protection of life Principle of equality and inequality Principle of autonomy and freedom Principle of least harm Principle of quality of life Principle of privacy and confidentiality Principle of truthfulness and full disclosure From Loewenberg, F.M. & Dolgoff, R. (2000). Ethical Decisions for Social Work Practice (6th ed.).itasca, Il.: FE Peacock.

13 Lowenberg & Dolgoff s Ethical Decision Making Model 1) Identify the problem and factors maintaining the problem 2) Identify all person, groups, organizations involved in the situation 3) Determine who should be involved in the decision making 4) Identify values involved in the situation - client, family, worker, professional, group, institutional, societal 5) Identify the goals and objectives which may resolve or reduce the problem 6) Identify alternative interventions to reach the goals 7) Assess the effectiveness of each of these alternative strategies 8) Select a strategy 9) Implement the strategy 10) Monitor the implementation of the strategy 11) Evaluate the results From Loewenberg, F.M. & Dolgoff, R. (2000). Ethical Decisions for Social Work Practice (6th ed.).itasca, Il.: FE Peacock.

14 A.R.E. A.R.E. You Operating From a Place of Sound Ethical Practice? Assessment Reasoning & Decisions (Is it sound?) Evaluation We must continually search for ethical practice in our work, particularly paying attention to what is going on around us. What is the right thing to do in a given practice situation?

15 Malpractice What is Malpractice? A type of negligence in which The professional, under a duty to act, fails to follow generally accepted professional standards, AND that breach of duty is the proximate cause of injury to a plaintiff who suffers harm. It is committed by a professional or his/her agents on behalf of a client that causes damages. What is a breach of duty? A breach is a violation or omission of a legal or moral duty. More particularly, the neglect or failure to fulfill in a just and proper manner the duties of employment. How could you breach a duty? Examples Failure to make a referral; Failure to get proper consent. In what ways would that cause injury to a client? Sounders, T. (2009, July). Shades of Gray: Exposing the Nuances of Professional Ethical Boundaries and Dual Relationships, Presentation at the NASW Clinical Summer Institute, Wilmington, NC.

16 Ethics The hallmark of any profession is the willingness to establish ethical standards to guide conduct Typically Codes, such as NASW Code of Ethics, are designed to address: Problems of moral hazard The orange warning barrels on the road to caution you Example Confidentiality Issues of professional courtesy How do we treat each other? Obligations to serve public interest Sounders, T. (2009, July). Shades of Gray: Exposing the Nuances of Professional Ethical Boundaries and Dual Relationships, Presentation at the NASW Clinical Summer Institute, Wilmington, NC.

17 Activity 4 Findings of Fact Cases from the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, & Regulations Before the State Board of Social Work Examiners

18 Activity 5 Is It Ethical? Exploring Case Scenarios developed by Thomas Horn Scenarios have been reproduced with permission by White Hat Communications Horn, T. (2011). Is it Ethical? 101 Scenarios in Everyday Social Work Practice. Harrisburg, PA: White House Communications.

19 Activity 6 Is It Ethical? Presenter s Scenarios

20 Activity 7 Is It Ethical? Attendee Scenarios

21 Presenter Contact Information Amy J. Barsanti, MSW Lecturer/Assistant Coordinator of Field Education The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

22 References Forrest, C. (2012, March). Today s Ethically-Charged Realities: Teaching Student Accountability in Field, Presentation at North Carolina Field Education Consortium Meetings, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC. Horn, T. (2011). Is it Ethical? 101 Scenarios in Everyday Social Work Practice. Harrisburg, PA: White House Communications. Loewenberg, F.M. & Dolgoff, R. (2000). Ethical Decisions for Social Work Practice (6th ed.). Itasca, IL: FE Peacock. Saunders, T. (2009, July). Shades of Gray: Exposing the Nuances of Professional Ethical Boundaries and Dual Relationships, Presentation at the NASW Clinical Summer Institute, Wilmington, NC. Walsh, J. (2010).Direct social work practice, (2 nd ed.).belmont CA: Wadsworth.