Social work practice, values, and ethical codes in service delivery

Social Service Settings SAOQ Analysis

The Social Service Delivery System

Social work is fast growing from democratic and humanitarian ideals while the values are based on respect for worth, dignity, and equality for all. In chapter four, social work practice is shown to have focused on developing human potential and addressing human needs. Social justice and human rights serve as justification and motivation for social work activities. The aspect of staffing has also been addressed in this study. Issues relating to equality, diversity, training, and orientation appear to capture the author's attention. The aspect of codes of conduct includes variation of ethical principles and values that relate to human rights, professional integrity and social justice together with practice principles (DuBois & Miley, 2014).

Analysis

The chapter illustrates that social work practice addresses the barriers, injustices, and inequities existing within the society. There are responses to emergencies and crises coupled with everyday social and personal problems. Social work in the community utilizes various techniques, activities, and skills, which are consistent with the holistic focus to people and the environments. Interventions in social work range between psychosocial processes that are person-focused and involvement in social planning, development, and policy (DuBois & Miley, 2014). The author goes into depths to classify social work organizations as either agencies or associations. It is also from this chapter that we appreciate the sources of funds used in social service to include grants, federal support, and community funds. The aspect of technology is important to any organization. This also applies to social service organizations. Although service delivery is enhanced, it is important to note that funding may influence the capacity of acquiring useful ICT infrastructure and other resources for the organization.

Summary

In an ideal situation, social work involves building and sustaining professional relationships through people's right of controlling the lives while making their decisions and choices. Social work relationships are based on rights of people to privacy, respect, confidentiality, and reliability. In chapter, the author has identified the essential values expected of any social worker because it influences the way services are delivered. Ideally, social workers should communicate through effective working partnership with individuals, groups, families, and communities within the agencies while respecting and valuing their contributions (DuBois & Miley, 2014).

Analysis

Social work includes promoting and contributing to the development of positive procedures, policies, and practices where empowering and anti-oppressive strategies are exposed (DuBois & Miley, 2014). The existence of values like acceptance, confidentiality, nonjudgmental attitudes, and accountability are some of the essential values that any social worker must possess. Social work remains a highly multifaceted profession. Professionals and social workers are expected to exercise judgment in competing and complex claims and interests. Ethical decision-making in certain situations involves informed judgment from individual social workers. It is prudent to respect people's culture, beliefs, needs, values, preferences, goals, affiliations, and relationships. Social work recognizes the prejudices of ensuring that there is no discrimination against others. The focus also ensures that services are delivered and offered through culturally appropriate ways. The implementers have a role of challenging and seeking to address actions of the colleagues demonstrating any form of prejudice or negative discrimination.

Opinion

In concur with the author that social workers must be guided by ethical principles in their day-to-day activities. Social work is based on the methodology through systematic evidence body for informed knowledge and the derived through practice and research evaluation. This includes indigenous and local knowledge relating to the immediate contexts. Ethical concentration considers the complexity of interactions between the environment and human beings against the capacities of people who are affected by the multiple influences including bio-psychosocial factors.

Questions

1. Should professionals failing to meet the established ethical standards in social work settings be sacked or give second chances? For how long?

2. How should managers in social work settings resolve moral dilemmas while ensuring a win-win situation for both the workers and the would-be beneficiaries of their services?

3. What should social workers do when the established codes are against their personal values?