Social Work

Code of Ethics
By: Florence F. Pasos, RS, MSW
Outline of Presentation:

• Context
• Values
• Purposes
• Ethical Principles
• Ethical Standards
Code – a set of laws; regulations; a
system

Ethics – morals; moral values; moral

principles
A code of ethics reflects a professional
code of conduct developed by a
profession.

Social work as a profession has its own

code of ethics.
 Context
The mission of the social work profession
is based on a set of values, which serve as
the foundation of social work’s unique
purpose. Professional ethics are based on
the social work values, hence, it reflects
the commitment of all social workers to
uphold the profession’s values and act
ethically.
 Context
“Ethical awareness is a necessary part of
the professional practice of any social
worker”. The social worker’s “ability to
act ethically is an essential aspect of the
quality of the service offered to clients.”
TLM, 566
Framework
Of Social Work
Social Work
Goal: Enhancement of man’s social functioning
Individuals, Groups, Communities
Social Administration
What Social Research Why
(Philosophy) Social Action (Knowledge)

Theories: ex. Personality,

Values
Learning, Social Role,
View about man
Culture, Systems,
Assumptions
Communication, Small
Ministry Perspective
Group, Organization, the
Desirability in our
Community, Feminist, etc.
Hearts

How
(Social Work Practice)
Goal Helping Process
Functions Helping Models and Approaches
Elements Tools in Problem-Solving
Skills Ethical Principles and Standards
The Values of Social Work
 Self-Realization

Each person has the right to

self-fulfilment
 Social Responsibility
Each person has the obligation to seek ways of
self-fulfilment as a member of society to
contribute to the common good

Society has the obligation to facilitate the self-

fulfilment of the individual and the right to
enrichment through the contribution of its
individual members
 Equal Opportunities
Each person requires socially provided and
socially safeguarded opportunities for satisfying
his basic needs in the physical, psychological,
economic, cultural, aesthetic and spiritual
realms
Social Justice = fairness and equality
 Social Provision

To permit both self-realization and contribution

to society by the individual, social organizations
must make available socially-provided devices
for needs satisfaction as wide in range, variety
and quality as the general welfare allows
 Principles of Social Work
1. Acceptance of people as they are
2. Participation of the client in problem-
solving
3. Self-Determination as a right of the client
4. Individualization of clients
5. Confidentiality
6. Worker Self-Awareness
7. Client-Worker Relationship
 Background
International Federation of Social Workers
(IFSW)

founded in 1928 in Paris at the first

international conference on Social Work- a
global organization representing 90
countries and 750,000 social workers
 Background
National Association of Social Workers
(NASW)

founded in 1955, an association of social

workers in the United States – 145,000
members
 Background

Philippine Association of Social Workers

(PASWI)
- Founded in 1947
- Worked for the passage of RA 4373, an act to
regulate the practice of Social Work
And the operation of social work agencies in the
Philippines (amended by RA 5175)
- a member of the IFSW
The Social Work Code of Ethics
“Ethics of Social Work – Principles and
Standards”

Adopted by the International

Federation of Social Workers’ (IFSW)
General Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka
on July 6-8, 1994
The Social Work Code of Ethics

2 documents of the Ethics of Social

Work:

• International Declaration of Ethical

Principles of Social Work

• International Ethical Standards for

Social Workers
 Compliance

The International Declaration of Ethical

Principles assumes that both member
associations of the IFSW and their
constituent members adhere to the
principles formulated therein.
 Purposes of the International
Declaration of Ethical Principles
• to formulate a set of basic principles of
social work which can be adapted to cultural
and social settings
• to identify ethical problem areas in the
practice of social work
• to provide guidance as to the choice of
methods for dealing with ethical
issues/problems
 The Principles

Every human being has a unique vale,

which justifies moral consideration for
that person
 The Principles

Each individual has the right to self-

fulfillment to the extent that it does not
encroach upon the same right of others,
and has the obligation to contribute to
the well-being of society
 The Principles

Each society, regardless of its form,

should function to provide the
maximum benefits for all of its
members
 The Principles

Social workers have a commitment to

principles of social justice
 The Principles

Social Workers have the

responsibility to devote objective and
disciplined knowledge and skill to aid
individuals, groups, communities and
societies in their development and
resolution of personal-societal
conflicts and their consequences
 The Principles
Social Workers are expected to
provide the best possible assistance
to anybody seeking their help and
advice, without unfair discrimination
on the basis of gender, age, disability,
color, social class, race, religion,
language, political beliefs, or sexual
orientation
 The Principles
Social Workers respect the basic
human rights of individuals and
groups as expressed in the United
Nations Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and other
international conventions derived
from the declaration
 The Principles
Social Workers pay regard to the
principles of privacy, confidentiality
and responsible use of information in
their professional work. Social
workers respect justified
confidentiality even when their
country’s legislation is in conflict with
this demand
 The Principles
Social Workers are expected to work in
full collaboration with their clients,
working for the best interests of the
clients but paying due regard to the
interest of others involved. Clients are
encouraged to participate and should
be informed of the risks and likely
benefits of proposed courses of action
 The Principles
Social Workers generally expect clients
to take responsibility, in collaboration
with them for determining courses of
action affecting their lives.
 The Principles
Social work is inconsistent with direct
or indirect support of individuals,
groups, political forces or power
structures suppressing their fellow
human beings by employing terrorism,
torture or similar brutal means
 The Principles
Social workers make ethically justified
decisions and stand by them, paying
due regard to the IFSW International
Declaration of Ethical Principles and to
the International Ethical Standards for
Social Workers adopted by their
national professional association
International Ethical Standards
for Social Workers

On the basis of the International

Declaration of Ethical Principles of
Social Work, the social worker is
obliged to recognize these standards
of ethical conduct
 International Ethical Standards
for Social Workers
• general standards of ethical conduct (10)
• social work standards relative to clients (4)
• social work standards relative to agencies and
organizations (5)
• social work standards relative to colleagues (5)
• standards relative to the profession (5)
General Standards of Ethical Conduct

Seek to understand each individual client

and the client system, and the elements
which affect behavior and the service
required
General Standards of Ethical Conduct

Uphold and advance the values,

knowledge and methodology of the
profession refraining from any behavior
which damages the functioning of the
profession
General Standards of Ethical Conduct

Recognize professional and personal

limitations
General Standards of Ethical Conduct

Encourage the utilization of all

relevant knowledge and skills
General Standards of Ethical Conduct

Apply relevant methods in the

development and validation of
knowledge
General Standards of Ethical Conduct

Contribute professional expertise to

the development of policies and
programs which improve the quality
of life in society
General Standards of Ethical Conduct

Identify and interpret social needs

General Standards of Ethical Conduct

Identify and interpret the basis and

nature of individual, group,
community, national and
international social problems
General Standards of Ethical Conduct

Identify and interpret the work of

the social work profession
General Standards of Ethical Conduct

Clarify whether public statements

are made or actions performed on
an individual basis or as
representative of a professional
association, agency or organization
or other group.
Social Work Standards Relative to Client

Accept primary responsibility to

identified clients, but within
limitations set by the ethical claim of
others
Social Work Standards Relative to Client

Maintain the client’s right to a

relationship of trust, privacy and
confidentiality. Client is informed on
the collection and sharing of
information. Client has access to
social work records concerning
him/her
Social Work Standards Relative to Client

Recognize and respect the individual

goals, responsibilities and differences
of clients. Within the scope of the
agency and the client’s social milieu,
the social worker shall assist clients
to take responsibility for personal
actions and help them with equal
willingness.
Social Work Standards Relative to Client

Help the client – individual, group,

community, or society – to achieve self-
fulfillment and maximum potential
within the limits of the respective rights
of others. Help the client understand and
use the professional relationship for the
client’s legitimate desires and interests.
 Social Work Standards Relative to
Agencies and Organizations

Work and cooperate with those agencies

ad organizations whose policies,
procedures and operations are directed
toward adequate service delivery and
encouragement of professional practice
consistent with the ethical principles of
the IFSW
Social Work Standards Relative to
Agencies and Organizations

Responsibly execute the stated aims

and functions of the agency or
organizations, contributing to the
development of sound policies,
procedures and practice in order to
obtain the best possible standards of
practice
 Social Work Standards Relative to
Agencies and Organizations
Sustain ultimate responsibility to the
client, initiating desirable alterations and
policies, procedures and practice, through
appropriate agency and organization
channels. If necessary remedies are not
achieved after channels have been
exhausted, initiate higher authorities or
the wider community of interest.
Social Work Standards Relative to
Agencies and Organizations

Ensure professional accountability to

client and community for efficiency
and effectiveness through periodic
review of the process of service
provision.
Social Work Standards Relative to
Agencies and Organizations

Use all possible ethical means to bring

unethical practice to an end when
policies, procedures and practices are
in direct conflict with the ethical
principles of social work
Social Work Standards Relative to
Colleagues

Acknowledge the education, training

and performance of social work
colleagues and professionals from
other disciplines, extending all
necessary cooperation that will
enhance services
Social Work Standards Relative to
Colleagues

Recognize the differences of opinion

and practice of social work
colleagues and other professionals,
expressing criticism through channels
in a responsible manner
Social Work Standards Relative to
Colleagues

Promote and share opportunities for

knowledge, experience and ideas
with all social work colleagues,
professionals from other disciplines
and volunteers for the purpose of
mutual improvement
Social Work Standards Relative to
Colleagues

Bring any violations of professional

ethics and standards to the attention
of the appropriate bodies inside and
outside the profession, and ensure
that relevant clients are properly
involved
Social Work Standards Relative to
Colleagues

Maintain the values, ethical

principles, knowledge and
methodology of the rpofession and
contribute to their clarification and
improvement
Social Work Standards Relative to the
Profession

Uphold the professional standards of

practice and work for their
advancement
Social Work Standards Relative to the
Profession

Defend the profession against unjust

criticism and work to increase
confidence in the necessity for
professional practice
Social Work Standards Relative to the
Profession

Present constructive criticism of the

profession, its theories, methods and
practices
Social Work Standards Relative to the
Profession

Encourage new approaches and

methodologies needed to meet new
existing needs
Some Points to Consider

“The Social Work Code of Ethics

offers a set of values, principles and
standards to guide decision-making
and conduct when ethical issues
arise. It does not provide a set of
rules that prescribe how social
workers should act in all situations”.
 Some Points to Consider

“Violation of the code does not

automatically imply legal liability or
violation of the law. Violations would be
subject to a peer review process.”
 Some Points to Consider

A code of ethics cannot not guarantee

ethical behavior, rather it sets forth
values, principles and standards to
which professionals aspire and by which
their actions can be judged.
 Some Points to Consider

A code of ethics cannot not guarantee

ethical behavior, rather it sets forth
values, principles and standards to
which professionals aspire and by which
their actions can be judged.
•

Thank you!