Ethics in Social work: (A case study of a Clinical social worker)

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Introduction

As a professional clinical social worker, my primary responsibility is to guarantee the well-being of people by fully meeting and fulfilling the basic human needs of various individuals, by paying adequate attention to the different needs as well as supportive measures to individuals who can be described as oppressed, susceptible and so forth. According to NASW (2017), social work is well defined as the profession that focuses on achieving the well-being of an individual complemented by that of the community. My responsibilities as a clinical social worker are rooted and put in constant check by a set of core values; thus I embrace these core values throughout my profession; the existence of these ethics is important as it offers guidance to the conduct of social workers. Therefore, these guidelines and principles are very critical in the field of social work, for example, I have 27-year-old woman convicted for child abuse, though she repeatedly denies the charges that led to her incarceration. She wants to be provided with counseling services so that her sentence is reduced leading to an early release; as such, her demands results in potential ethical dilemmas. To be specific, clinical social work is presented by a substantial diversion of dilemmas, and so, this essay seeks to analyze the various dilemmas complemented by the legal implications that might be attracted.

The ethical dilemma

                As a social worker, I am tasked with the mandate to enhance social change and justice on behalf of my community, organization, family and so forth in the prison system. Baldwin (2013) asserts that the cultural and ethnic diversity is among the few things that social workers are highly aware of; therefore, social workers fight against social injustices, for example, oppression, discrimination, and so on. For that reason, during my advocacy and other related activities, I am faced with the situation regarding my client, a 27-year old woman charged with the offense of child abuse. My client has made a formal request that she should be accorded the opportunity to receive guidance and counseling's services in the bid that she can have her sentence reduced on the grounds of proper conduct; as such the decision I make on her appeal might attract various legal implications. Nonetheless, as a professional clinical social worker, I am tasked with the responsibility of meeting and fulfilling the demands of my clients by focusing on the well-being of an individual complemented by societal well-being (Kelly et al., 2014).

However, I must make all my decisions following the Code of Ethics Standard 2.01(b) which states that respect should be maintained when I am relating with me colleagues, which guides the relations and conduct of a social worker. The demands of my client result into two ethical dilemmas; despite, not being privy to the evidence that convicted her it is apparent that she was found guilty by the jury, therefore, earning her sentence. Nonetheless, as a professional clinical social worker I believe that I will have a difficult time working with my client having been jailed because physically abusing her child. Thus, the ethical dilemma is underlined by the decision at whether or not to offer her counseling services while acknowledging that I might have personal bias considering my stance towards her crime. Bearing this in mind it will be wrong considering the provision and requirements stipulated in the Standards of ethics 3.02(a) to allow myself to offer her counseling services knowing that I reserve resentment and anger towards her.

Conversely, the second dilemma revolves around the issue that by allowing her to access guidance and counseling services she will end up getting her sentence reduced, thus she would be released on the ground of proper conduct based on my recommendations. According to Oliver (2013), a social worker has the mandate to prioritize the needs and the well-being of the society; thus the dilemma is highlighted by the decision to whether or not to recommend the release of a criminal back in the society, having not entirely served her full sentence. To some extent, an early release of my clients might further endanger or affect the life of her child, given that she was jailed over the charge that she brutally abused her child

The Rutland Model

            So that to enhance my decision making, considering the ethical dilemmas faced from the situation of my client, I will use the provisions of the ethical decision-maker the Rutland model. I...