SOCIAL WORK AS AN ETHICAL PROFESSION
Social work is a profession bound by a code of ethics, one which has evolved in conjunction with the development of social work practice. The code of ethics outlines the mission and values of the social work profession, as well as the subsequent principles and standards that demonstrates those values. The code is not a rule book, but a set of guidelines that helps a social worker choose the most appropriate course of action.
Codes of ethics or discussions of ethics can be formal, sometimes resembling legal language, and adopted by varied groups. When examined closely and analyzed, they can become powerful, and their meaning can evolve with your experience. And they serve a practical purpose, especially in social work—they are guiding principles and a checkpoint. In this Discussion, you reflect on the NASW Code of Ethics to begin the process of finding how its meaning can apply to your practice.
Assigned section= Standard 2 to Colleagues
· Consider how you might explain to a peer the relevance of the NASW code of ethics generally and your assigned section of the code specifically.
Post the following as it relates to your assigned standard:
· Describe professional ethics and the purpose of the NASW code of ethics in your own words.
· Explain the section of the code that you were assigned.
· Describe the standards within that section in your own words.
· Provide a specific example of how a social worker would apply these ethical standards in their practice.
