WEEK 2

COMPETENCY AND
PRACTICE BEHAVIORS
Tia Lowery

Competency 2
Apply social work ethical principles to
guide professional practice.

Practice Behavior 2.1

Recognize and manage personal values in a way that allows professional values to
guide practice.
This would require one to separate my personal values from my professional
values. I would have to learn to deal with any personal biases that come up
during my practice and allow my professional values to help me make my decisions.

Practice Behavior 2.2

Make ethical decisions by applying standards of the NASW Code of Ethics and, as
applicable, of the International Federation of Social Workers/International
Association of Schools of Social Work Ethics in Social Work, Statement of Principles.
Using the NASW Code of Ethics, when faced with ethical dilemmas the principles
and values will serve as a guide. In the rural setting that I am conducting my
internship in, people are very well known by their names alone. So given the
clients right of privacy and confidentiality, if asked about a certain person I
would
not discuss if I am working with that client or what is going on with their
case.

Practice Behavior 2.3

Tolerate ambiguity in resolving ethical conflicts.
Even though one may know the correct and ethical decision that should be made as a
professional, sometimes personal biases may still try to dominate. However, as a
professional this is not acceptable and needs to be resolved. First, one needs to take note
of any negative influences on ethical conflicts. Then, they would want to maybe discuss it
with peers or a supervisor and receive the necessary assistance in tolerating ambiguity.
For instance, in the field of social work, working with registered sex offenders may be
encountered. It would be unethical to deny them access to social services. Knowing the
personal bias that I would have in working with this population I would have to consult
with
my supervisor and try to overcome these biases or either go about reassigning the
case.

Practice Behavior 2.4

Apply strategies of ethical reasoning to arrive at principled decisions.
Use different strategies to organize multiple principles that may apply to a
certain case. Self-determination is a principle discussed in the NASW Code of Ethics
that all clients have the right to. They are also entitled to confidentiality
unless
there is immediate harm to the client or another individual. In a case such as this
self-determination and the right to confidentiality is taken away.