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Ethical Decision-Making and Social Work Practice

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Ethical Decision-Making and Social Work Practice

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  1. Ethical Decision-Making and Social Work Practice Presented by; Angel Ris S. Apas

  2. FOUNDATION FOR ETHICAL DECISION MAKING ETHICAL RELATIVISM In ethics, the belief that nothing is objectively right or wrong and that the definition of right or wrong depends on the prevailing view of a particular individual, culture, or historical period. • Reject fixed moral rules • Justify ethical decisions on the basis of the context • or situation in which they are made • Or on the basis of the consequences that result.

  3. FOUNDATION FOR ETHICAL DECISION MAKING FOUNDATION FOR ETHICAL DECISION MAKING ETHICAL ABSOLUTISM Ethical absolutism is the concept that ethical rules are the same everywhere. • Stresses the overriding importance of fixed moral rules. • Maintain that ethical rules can be formulated • and that should hold under all circumstances

  4. CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES TO ETHICAL DECISION MAKING HUMANISTIC ETHICS is not based on the divine principle of any kind. As a non-theistic ideology, humanists derive their moral code from their internal feelings • Focuses on casual rather than on moralistic explanations of human behavior. • Stresses that every person has the capacity, opportunity, and responsibility to • make choices that make sense to him or her.

  5. CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES TO ETHICAL DECISION MAKING RELIGIOUS ETHICS “if there is no God, everything permissible.” -Ivan (Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov A belief in the existence of God. • There is a set of divine values that humans must try to discover. • There are rules that give direction for correct behaviors at all times. • Religious faith and ethical morality are two sides of the same coin.

  6. CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES TO ETHICAL DECISION MAKING THE ETHICS OF CARING A normative ethical theory that holds that moral action centers on interpersonal relationships and care or benevolence as a virtue • The care view would instead say that we an and should put the interests of those who are close to us above the interests of complete strangers • We should cultivate our natural capacity to care for others and ourselves.

  7. CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES TO ETHICAL DECISION MAKING FEMINIST ETHICS • Feminist ethics values women and resists oppression or domination • When men dominate women because of their gender, • that is “patriarchy”= rule of the fathers • Feminist ethics affirms that women are as valuable and capable as men • Both men and women should be treated as equals • Neither should oppress or dominate the other • Both are deserving of justice rather than discrimination or privilege.

  8. CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES TO ETHICAL DECISION MAKING CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES TO ETHICAL DECISION MAKING FEMINIST ETHICS • ASPECT OF FEMINIST THEORY • The critique of domination and the concomitant • articulation of the value of reciprocity, balancing • traditional power differences. • The recognition of the distinctive individuality of the other • A commitment to an ideal of caring • A rejection of abstract universality and a model of reasoning • that is concerned with context.

  9. CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES TO ETHICAL DECISION MAKING VIRTUE ETHICS • VIRTUE ETHICS- A moral theory that focuses on the development of virtuous character. • VIRTUES- Engrained dispositions to act by standards of excellence. • In virtue ethics, character is the key to the moral life, for it is from a virtuous character that moral conduct and values naturally arise.

  10. CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES TO ETHICAL DECISION MAKING CONFUCIAN ETHICS • Confucianism is an ethical system rather system rather than a religion. (Ethics deals with human behavior and conduct.) • Confucius was mainly concerned with how human beings behaved toward each other • Confucius believed that people, desire to live in the company of other people, that is, in society • It is only in society that people reach their fullest development • It is important for people to know how to behave in society

  11. CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES TO ETHICAL DECISION MAKING HINDU ETHICS • The caste system obligates one to live and act according to caste. • To do otherwise is bad Karma. • It is impossible to believe in human equality, rights and freedom and affirm Hinduism • Widows according to Hindu teaching (Laws of Manu 5:156,161) must remain chaste the rest of their days. • Many women are praised for their devotion because they flung themselves onto their late husband’s funeral pyre to burn up along with him ( a practice known as sati); the only alternative to chastity.

  12. DIFFERENT LEVELS OF VALUE VALUES- are a key element in the ethical decision-making process. VALUES- are a key element in the ethical decision-making process. “values in action” -Levy (1976b) “values in action” -Levy (1976b) INDIVIDUAL OR PERSONAL VALUES – are values held by one person but not necessarily by others. GROUP VALUES – are values held by subgroups within a society. SOCIETAL VALUES – are values that are recognized by major portions of the entire social system PROFESSIONAL VALUES- are values proclaimed by a professional group. INDIVIDUAL OR PERSONAL VALUES – are values held by one person but not necessarily by others. GROUP VALUES – are values held by subgroups within a society. SOCIETAL VALUES – are values that are recognized by major portions of the entire social system PROFESSIONAL VALUES- are values proclaimed by a professional group.

  13. GUIDELINES FOR ETHICAL DECISION MAKING: THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AND TOOLS

  14. A GENERAL DECISION-MAKING MODEL

  15. Ethical Decision-Making Model As with any ethical decision-making tool, social workers must use professional judgment when using these tools and consult with a colleague or supervisor as needed. For a detailed description of the Ethical Principles Screen, Dolgoff, Loewenberg, & Harrington (2005). Ethical decisions for social work practice. Thomson Brooks/Cole.

  16. Ethical Decision-Making Model

  17. Social workers uphold the following core values: Value 1: Respect for the inherent dignity and worth of persons Value 2: Pursuit of social justice Value 3: Service to humanity Value 4: Integrity in professional practice Value 5: Confidentiality in professional practice Value 6: Competence in professional practice

  18. “Ethical behavior comes from a social worker’s individual commitment to engage in ethical practice. Both the spirit and the letter of this Code of Ethics will guide social workers as they act in good faith and with a genuine desire to make sound judgements”. CASW Code of Ethics (2005)

  19. Components of Ethical Decision-Making

  20. Risk Tolerance Risk tolerance can be defined as one’s comfort level with risk. This includes risk for oneself and on behalf of another (e.g. clients) to achieve a goal or purpose. As professionals we can make arguments for and against risk; from no risk to high risk. Our tolerance for risk, which is part of the broader ethical framework, can fall along this continuum.

  21. It might be helpful to reflect on the following questions as they pertain to specific ethical dilemmas in practice: What factors primarily inform my tolerance for risk? Is my personal and professional tolerance for risk similar or different? How comfortable am I with uncertainty and ambiguity? Am I guided by deontological principles (rules) or utilitarian principles (consequences)? What other theories inform my practice? 3 Are there times when my risk tolerance may have been too high? Too low? What were the contributing factors?

  22. Critical Reflection and Professional Judgment “Social work is a multifaceted profession. As professionals, social workers are educated to exercise judgement in the face of complex and competing interests and claims. Ethical decision-making in a given situation will involve the informed judgement of the individual social worker”(CASW 2005, p. 3).

  23. In critically reflecting on ethical dilemmas in practice, some questions that you might want to consider include:  Am I placing the client first? Am I motivated by my own needs? Protection of Life Equality and inequality Autonomy and freedom Least harm Quality of Life Privacy and Confidentiality Truthfulness and full disclosure 5  Are professional boundaries being challenged? Have I set clear boundaries with my client?  Is this situation/dilemma creating a blend between my personal and professional life?  Would I consider it to be reasonable for another social worker to make a similar decision given the facts and circumstances?  Can I explain the rationale for my decision and link it to my professional code of ethics?  Are there other influences (that have little to do with my professional role) that may be influencing my decision-making?

  24. Ethical Considerations Ethical Considerations Ethical decision-making is a key component of professional social work practice.  Self-disclosure Should social workers disclose personal information about themselves to clients? How much personal information is appropriate to share with clients? Are there times when self-disclosure is unavoidable and if so, how should these be handled? What is the impact of self-disclosure on the social worker-client relationship?

  25. Conclusion Social work is a profession committed to improving the health and social well-being of individuals, couples, families and communities. Accountable, Competent, Professional and Ethical: social workers are employed in diverse areas of practice throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and use our skills, knowledge and professional judgments to ensure that clients receive the highest quality services. Social work practice is grounded in a code of ethics that sets forth values and principles that provides a common ethical framework. Ethical decision-making is a core component of social work practice. It is anticipated that this document will be a useful resource to social workers as they navigate ambiguity and make sound ethical decisions.

  26. Source sited Ethical Decision-Making in Social Work, Wade Robison Linda CherreyReeser, Originally published by Allyn & Bacon 2002, ISBN 0-205-30779-5 Ethical Decisions for Social Work Practice 9th edition, Dolgolf, Ralph, Donna; Loewerberg, ; Harrington, frank M. © 2021 Dictionary.com, LLC, ethical relativism prezi.com Ethical Decision Making in Social Work Practice by Lisa Karlson Foley

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