Week 3 Assignment: Values and Ethics Reflection

Overview

Part of becoming a professional social worker is reflecting on how your personal values and professional ethics will play a role in social work practice. This assignment will give you an opportunity to define some key terms, apply values and principles from the NASW Code of Ethics, consider potential ethical challenges in your present or future practice, and place your discussion in a scholarly context.

By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following EPAs and generalist practices:

• Competency 1: Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
  • C1.GP.C: Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior, appearance, and oral, written, and electronic communication.
    • Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.
• Competency 2: Engage diversity and difference in practice.
  • C2.GP.C: Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies.
    • Identify 3–5 primary personal values.
    • Describe the differences between specific personal values and NASW professional values.
    • Explain what is meant by professional boundaries and why they are important.
    • Describe times when one's own personal values have been compromised and the feelings that resulted.
    • Describe a possible ethical challenge one might face as a social worker and how it might be addressed.
• Competency 6: Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • C6.GP.B: Use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies.
    • Describe a cultural belief that is contrary to principles and standards in the NASW Code of Ethics.

Description

This is a three-page paper (not including the title or reference pages) addressing differences between personal values and professional values and examining how personal values can create bias as a social worker. Using the content from the Week 2 assigned quiz, as well as activities and readings in weeks 1–3, this paper addresses how values have a role in social work practice and ethical decision making.

Instructions

Use the APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX] template to write your paper.

In your paper, respond to the following, using the headings provided at the beginning of each component:

Personal Values

• Identify 3–5 primary personal values.

Personal vs Professional Values

• Describe the differences between each of the personal values you identified and the professional values in the NASW Code of Ethics.

Professional Boundaries in Social Work Practice

• Refer to the readings and explain what is meant by professional boundaries and why they are important in social work practice.

Diversity and Difference

• Refer to the readings and resources in weeks 1–3 and/or other research and describe one cultural belief that is contrary to at least one of the principles and standards in the NASW Code of Ethics. Include the specific principle and standard in your narrative.
  • Example: In the Hindu caste system, there is a belief that some humans are "untouchable." The social work principle that "social workers challenge injustice," is at odds with this belief and practice. One of the standards that might be applied is the following Standard 1.05 (b) Cultural Competence:

Social workers should demonstrate knowledge that guides practice with clients of various cultures and be able to demonstrate skills in the provision of culturally informed services that empower marginalized individuals and groups. Social workers must take action against oppression, racism, discrimination, and inequities, and acknowledge personal privilege (NASW, 2021).

Personal Compromises and Professional Ethical Challenges

• Personal Compromise: Discuss times when you have compromised your personal values. What led to the compromise? How did you feel before, during, and after the compromise?
• Professional Ethical Challenge: Refer to the readings and describe an ethical challenge you might anticipate as a social worker and how you might address this challenge. For instance, what resources might you consult? What steps might you take to help you decide what to do?

Additional Requirements

The assignment you submit is expected to meet the following requirements:

• Written communication: Written communication is free from errors that detract from the overall message.
• Template: Use the APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX] template to write your paper.
• APA formatting: Citations and references are formatted according to current APA style and format. Refer to the Evidence and APA. page on Campus for guidance.
• APA Title and Reference Pages: Your paper must include an APA-formatted Title page at the beginning and a Reference page at the end.
• Cited resources: At a minimum, cite and reference the NASW Code of Ethics and at least one other reading from Weeks 1–3.
• Length of paper: A minimum of three double-spaced pages, not counting the Title and Reference pages.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
• Due date: Assignment must be submitted in the corresponding assignment section in the courseroom no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday of this week.