1999T.Y. LEE1 Code of Practice and Ethical Dilemmas T.Y. LEE, Fieldwork Coordinator BSW

1999T.Y. LEE2 The Code of Practice for Registered Social Workers in Hong Kong n Prepared by n The Hong Kong Social Workers Registration Board

1999T.Y. LEE3 The Code of Practice n is an operational statement of the central values of the social work profession. thoroughly n Social work students should be thoroughly familiar with it. n Represents standards of ethical behavior for social workers.

1999T.Y. LEE4 Contents of the Code of Practice n1n1. Basic values and beliefs n2n2. Principles of practice

1999T.Y. LEE5 Principles of Practice n Personal Conduct n Clients n Colleagues n Agency n Profession n Society

1999T.Y. LEE6 Violation Violation of the Code of Practice n may lead to failure in fieldwork assessment n if a placement student breaches the Code, malpractice n when evidence for the malpractice is upheld, n his/her fieldwork will be given a failure or zero mark

1999T.Y. LEE7 What is an ethical dilemma? It is a Conflict between... n one’s personal and professional values n two values/ethical principles n two possible actions each with reasons strongly favorable and unfavorable n two unsatisfactory alternatives n one’s values/principles and one’s perceived role n the need to act and the need to reflect

1999T.Y. LEE8 Can ethical dilemma be avoided? n You can avoid ethical dilemmas! But... cannot completely n You cannot completely avoid ethical dilemmas!

1999T.Y. LEE9 You can avoid ethical dilemmas! An Example n Your placement is in a school, you should give prior thought thought to how you would respond when a child reveals abuse or neglect. n Find out how your field instructor wants you to handle these situations. n What information does the school school expect you will share with concerned teachers? The principal?

1999T.Y. LEE10 You cannot completely avoid ethical dilemmas! n It is best to prepare yourself for them n by examining your own values from time to time n and learning all you can about: n how past ethical problems in your placement settings were resolved.

1999T.Y. LEE11 What are the behaviors that will almost always be viewed as unethical ?

1999T.Y. LEE12 Sexual intimacy with clients

1999T.Y. LEE13 Libeling or slandering a client

1999T.Y. LEE14 Sharing confidences without compelling professional reasons

1999T.Y. LEE15 Assaulting, causing physical injuries, or placing clients in danger

1999T.Y. LEE16 Discriminatory practices

1999T.Y. LEE17 Withdrawing services precipitously (abandoning a client)

1999T.Y. LEE18 Failure to warn and protect the victim of a violent crime

1999T.Y. LEE19 Failure to exercise reasonable precautions with a potentially suicidal client

1999T.Y. LEE20 Promising “cures” for problems

1999T.Y. LEE21 How do I avoid rushing into ethical dilemmas? n Develop a working knowledge of the Code of Practice n (by necessity they cannot be specific to every possible ethics violation) n By anticipating likely trouble spots before they occur.

1999T.Y. LEE22 How do I resolve ethical dilemmas? n The first step is recognizing the problem and identifying the source of the conflict. n You also must keep all parties informed of your legal and ethical obligations. n Engage clients or involved parties in dialogue, and brainstorm the “ best ” course of action.

1999T.Y. LEE23 n Make sure you are constantly keeping in mind the mission of the profession and n observing the client’s right to self- determination. n If you are still unclear about what to do, discuss the situation with your field instructor. external n Protect the identity of the client if necessary, and present the situation as a “ hypothetical ” case if you need external help.

1999T.Y. LEE24 The priority ranking of ethical principles (Lowenberg and Dolgoff,1992) An approach for ordering social work values that might help you get off the “horns of a dilemma.” nPnProtection of life nEnEquality nAnAutonomy and freedom nLnLeast harm nQnQuality of life nPnPrivacy and confidentiality nTnTruthfulness and full disclosure

1999T.Y. LEE25 How do I know whether I am doing the right thing? n It is not always possible to know, n but there is a greater chance that n we can feel good about the decision we have to make n if we go through a deliberate process where n we examine our values, n seek additional information, and n consult others.

1999T.Y. LEE26 A Decision-Making Model: 5 Steps (M.V. Joseph, 1983) n 1. definition of the dilemma,

1999T.Y. LEE27 A Decision-Making Model: 5 Steps (M.V. Joseph, 1983). n looking at all the relevant facts and developing valid arguments for various courses of action,

1999T.Y. LEE28 A Decision-Making Model: 5 Steps (M.V. Joseph, 1983) n 3. consideration of practice wisdom, personal beliefs and values, and how these might influence the final decision,

1999T.Y. LEE29 A Decision-Making Model: 5 Steps (M.V. Joseph, 1983) n 4. developing options, exploring compromises, evaluating alternatives in an attempt to find a course of action with the least negative effects, and

1999T.Y. LEE30 A Decision-Making Model: 5 Steps (M.V. Joseph, 1983) n5n5. choosing a position that you can defend.

1999T.Y. LEE31 The End Read the Code of Practice and keep a copy while you practice