Exploring Social Work Profession: Ethics, Values & Regulations in Ontario

2. Social Work 1002A & v: Introduction to Social work CLASS 4: Section A: Friday 2nd February Section T: Sunday 4th February

3. Class Learning objectives • At the end of this class, students will be able to: • Appreciate the breadth of populations and areas in which social workers work in Canada • Identify the organisations that structure and regulate the profession of social work and social work education in Canada, and more specifically, Ontario. • Understand how laws and treaties at different levels may directly or indirectly influence social work practice in Canada, and more specifically, Ontario. • Appreciate the importance of, and describe, the core values, principles and ethical considerations in social work practice in Canada, and more specifically, Ontario.

4. Class overview • 11:35-12:50 The profession of social work (Guest speaker: Brenda Morris) • 12:50-13:05 Break • 13:05-13:15 Admin • 13:15-14:25 The profession continued

5. Section V survey • https://PollEv.com/surveys/WfpjDJdeT/web

6. The profession of social work Brenda Morris, MSW

7. Active listening • As you listen to Brenda, think about (and take note of): • How her presentation is related to the readings for this week • Connections between her presentation and what we’ve talked about in previous weeks • How the structures that she talks about may be related to the topic you have chosen for your assignment.

9. admin

10. Midterm assignment • It’s OK if your topic spans two of the categories (e.g. Youth in the criminal justice system, immigrant mental health, poverty in Indigenous communities) • If you are unsure of what to look at, one way to start would be to do some initial research into one or more populations in which you are interested. • Remember the bullet points are suggestions of directions your paper could take: You are NOT expected to answer all of them in 5 pages! • The assignment was designed to be very flexible, so that students could write on a topic that interests them. I am expecting that papers will be very different! • We are here to help – if you have questions, ASK!

11. Questions? • Midterm assignment? • Midterm exam? • Reflections? • Anything else?

12. The profession of social work Solidifying your understanding

13. How social work is organised

14. Exercise: what legislation is relevant? • Identify laws that could be relevant to social work in: • Child protection • Criminal justice system • Or another area in which you are interested…

15. Exercise: what legislation is relevant?

16. Social work accreditation standards • When you were reading the CASWE accreditation standards: • Was there anything that you found… • ..surprising? • ..intriguing? • ..confusing? • Did you notice any connections between the standards and what we’re doing in this course?

17. Professional standards: definitions • How do you define the following? • Ethics • Morals • Principles

18. Professional standards: definitions • How do you define the following? • Ethics: “a : a set of moral principles” or “the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group” • Moral: “of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior” • Principles: “a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption”

19. Why are ethical standards important in social work practice and research? • To protect clients • To help guide social workers • To provide consistency and transparency • To hold social workers and their agencies accountable

20. Unethical practice • What examples of unethical practice have we covered so far in the course? • What others can you think of? • Have you head about any unethical research in other courses?

21. Key themes in social work ethical guidelines • Inherent dignity and worth of the person/ Best interest of the client • Social justice advocacy • Integrity, objectivity and competence in professional practice • Confidentiality • Accountability to client, agency, profession, colleagues, general public

23. Key themes in social work research ethics • (and not just social work research) • Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP): Centring the participants • Do No Harm • Voluntary and informed consent • Confidentiality • Disclosure, and no deception • Dissemination

24. ‘doing’ Ethics in reality • Daily decisions • Lots of grey areas • Situational • Can be very difficult to navigate

25. Ethical dilemmas • What if… • a client wants to do something that goes against your values? • a client offers you a gift? • a client asks you personal questions? • a client wants to friend you on facebook? • you know a client in another capacity? • a court asks you for your case notes relating to a particular client? you work with clients who are engaged in illegal activity? you cannot, due to resources, work with all those who need your services equally?

26. Recent changes • Changes to OCSWSSW regulation requirements: • “all applicants will be required to indicate whether or not they suffer from any physical or mental condition or disorder that could affect their ability to practice social work or social service work in a safe manner”

27. Questions?

28. Summary and learning check

29. Profession of social work • Social work, and social work education are structured and regulated by organisations at an international, national and provincial level • The work that social workers do is both directly and indirectly shaped by international treaties, and national, provincial (and maybe even municipal) legislation • Ethical considerations are an intrinsic, and daily, concern in social work. Social workers in Canada must adhere to both provincial and national professional and ethical guidelines.

34. before next week • Readings as per course outline • Reflection (optional) • Have a great weekend!