Introduction
Ethical responsibilities that are useful for the social worker to test scopes include moral boundaries, capabilities, and integrity. An essay about ethical dilemmas is about four situations that involve a student from different settings, thus producing unique challenges. Through the application of the OCSWSSW Code of Ethics, Bell Hooks’ Love Ethic, and the Teaching of the 7 Sacred, we will use each scenario to reveal the violations of the ethical standards currently in place, understand the best practices and plan and execute a compassionate approach in social work and social services which will show the only path that is ethical and compassionate.
Jane’s Scenario
In the case of Jane’s involvement with Tony, we observe a dismal violation of ethics, in which, in turn, personal and professional lives collide. The fundamental principle of social work and social service, where a provider builds up a relationship with a client, is that of maintaining the opportunity guidance to ensure the safety, care, and dignity of a client (Lambovitch, 2019). Jane’s use of an app contains violations of both conflicts of interest that Principle I (Relationship with Clients) says, which the benefit of the client is not sometimes. In that case, Principle V (Confidentiality) may also be violated since it turns out that Jane does not protect the patient’s privacy, which ensures only the trust and safety of the patient-therapist relationship. As a student, therefore, the foremost ethical duty is to look for instant help and guidance from supervisors and simultaneously inform them about conflict of interest if there is any possibility of such gaps arising in the relationship between the client and the practitioner. Employing this method not only proves one’s dexterity with ethical behavior but also unveils one’s ambition to learn and move on professionally. As conceived in Hook’s Love Ethics, it can be seen in Tony’s attempt at human compassion, but with an ethical umbilical cord on the edge. By representing his emotional distress and supporting his interests in a setting that poses certain ethical boundaries, being caring becomes equivalent to being a maintenance of uncertainty. The situation involves engagement with the main principles of the 7 Sacred Teachings, such as Respect and Wisdom, showing us why we should follow ethical requirements like honoring professional boundaries and advice from wise people in relation to managing complex human feelings (Manitowabi, 2017).
Michael’s Scenario
Michael’s mode is so highly against ethical standards as it consists of stealing and contorting everything for his selfish goals. Such actions go against the Competence and Integrity principle (Principle II) and the Responsibility to Client principle (Principle III), which underline that the well-being and the honesty of the clients came secondary to the financial benefits for the advising agents (CLAUSE, 2015). The stealing, more than breaking his trust, robbed the people of the opportunities to be helpful in society. The appropriate response of the students involves not only writing a report on what Michael did wrong but also thinking over the broader consequences of such actions, such as a negative impact on the respect of any profession. Being ethical, which means being courageous and truthful, comes from what is established by the OCSWSSW Code of Ethics and the 7 Sacred Teachings. According to Bell Hooks’ Love Ethic, the agency promotes a culture of fairness and Responsibility. In this kind of culture, the members do not accept anyone’s unethical behavior, and the goodwill of the community comes first. The ideas of Honesty and Courage, which the Seven Sacred Teachings refer to, adhere well to this situation as a matter of fact, and it goes to show how vital it is to be able to hold dearly to one’s ethics, even when this implies that one may be likely be tested negatively.
Karen’s Scenario
The Karl scenario brings into play the difficulty slicing up between the situation of the confidentiality of a client and the matter of the safety of a child. Principle III (Responsibility to Clients) and Principle V (Confidentiality) contend that the student social worker has to excel in the decision, which is such a complex ethical dilemma. Though the instinct that motivates to rescue the Child from harm is comprehensible, the consideration of the Child’s security and health should be the primary thing. By promoting a balanced method of upholding the Child’s rights while considering the underlying intentions behind the protection, ethical practice characterizes the maturity of ethics in this field. It levels up the capacity to manage moral ambivalence by way of moral perception, carefulness, and dedication to the ethics of care and safeguarding. The cultivation of the discipline of compassion and understanding of the love ethic, as ascribed by Bell Hooks, guarantees a safe space and safety for the Child (Hooks, 2015). This conflict not only points out but also looks to the Sacred Teachings of Wisdom and Love by pushing for a solution that respects the family’s status quo while also bringing about true healing and calling all of us to be committed to care and ethical conduct.
Maggie’s Scenario
Maggie’s heated response to a confrontation serves as the debunker of the concepts of non-violence and of being neutral in the eyes of the public. Such an attitude demonstrates the non-chance of Principle I (‘in the interests of clients’) and Principle II (‘Professionalism and honesty’), which devalue and deter all the clients. The prospect of a factor of physical force is not only the one that puts the safety of the client in jeopardy but also that of the agency staff, service provider, and the image of the agency. The application of non-violent de-escalation techniques and asking for the supervisor’s guidance are the priority actions in dealing with the dilemma in this way, both ethically and safely. This way, strategic plans are humanized with ethical practice, in addition to caring for clients and staff. In Hooks’ Love Ethic perspective, recognizing others’ feelings and being patient can be an effective instrument in resolution, as self-love is usually the first step to loving and supporting others (Hooks, 2014). Among the seven sacred teachings, humility and respect are those that implementers need to keep in mind, familiarize themselves with these teachings in order to appreciate their significance and apply them to all members of society and in the case of health issues.
Conclusion
The underpinning of Bell Hooks’ love ethic principles, the unity of the OCSWSW Code of Ethics, and the seven sacred teachings lays bare the challenging endeavor of ethical behavior in social work and social services. All instances force clinicians to appreciate the fact that there is no easy solution and that they have to act – not just with integrity but also with compassion and discernment. They need to keep in mind the questions of professional boundaries, respecting each client’s dignity, and the goal of ensuring the well-being of everyone. Following these fundamental philosophies and principles, social workers and social services workers are able to perform their jobs in a manner that not only adheres to professional standards of behavior but also personifies ethical values of empathy, respect, and Responsibility.
References
CLAUSE, A. (2015). Laurentian Université/Université Laurentienne (Doctoral dissertation, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Laurentian University Sudbury).
Hooks, B. (2014). Teaching to transgress. Routledge.
Hooks, B. (2015). Choosing the margin as a space of radical openness. In Women, Knowledge, and Reality (pp. 48-55). Routledge.
Lambovitch, L. (2019). Supporting child survivors of trauma at school: depathologizing behaviour and educating teachers (Doctoral dissertation, Laurentian University of Sudbury).
Manitowabi, J. (2017). IT SOMETIMES SPEAKS TO US (Doctoral dissertation).
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