BY CONNI E L .

L OWRY
CORE COMPETENCY #2
CORE COMPETENCY #2
Apply social work ethical
principles to guide
professional practice

2.1 RECOGNIZE AND MANAGE PERSONAL VALUES
IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS PROFESSIONAL VALUES
TO GUIDE PRACTICE
As our clients have been diagnosed with six months
or less to live, one of the most common issues I face
regarding my personal values is when dealing with
clients who are atheist, do not want anything to do
with religion or God or especially do not want the
chaplain in our agency to visit their home. It is at
this point I have to manage my personal values
over my professional values.



2.2 MAKE ETHICAL DECISIONS BY APPLYING
STANDARDS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
SOCIAL WORKERS CODE OF ETHICS
When I am not sure of what to do during a situation,
I will check with my supervisor and the NASW Code
of Ethics.
2.3 TOLERATE AMBIGUITY IN
RESOLVING ETHICAL CONFLICTS
As I work closely with the nurse, chaplain, volunteer
coordinator and bereavement coordinator in my
agency, I am aware that they do not follow the
same code of ethics that social workers follow.


2.4 APPLY STRATEGIES OF ETHICAL
REASONING TO ARRIVE AT PRINCIPLED
DECISIONS
Weekly supervisory meetings with my supervisors to
discuss any issues I may have An example is last
week we had a client who was actively dying and
wanted a special meal. Since no one was
available to prepare it for her, my social worker took
it to the patient. The social worker indicated we
were using empathy and being sympathetic to the
needs of our patient.