1. GETTING IT RIGHT: Teaching Ethics for Practice VALUES AND ETHICS In the human services and social work Judith Oliver

2. Understanding the difference… Although values and ethics are sometimes used interchangeably, the two terms are not identical. Values pertain to beliefs and attitudes that provide direction to everyday living, whereas ethics pertain to the beliefs we hold about what constitutes right conduct. Ethics are moral principles adopted by an individual or group to provide rules for right conduct. Morality is concerned with perspectives of right and proper conduct and involves an evaluation of actions on the basis of some broader cultural context or religious standard. Corey,Corey,Callanan (1998)

3. WHAT DOES ETHICS MEAN? n Ethics is about right and wrong n Ethics is about how we are to live n Ethics is facing choices vs walking a path ETHICS IS NOT n A set of quasi-rules n An imposed set of standards ETHICS is a conversation about what we ought to do in particular situations

4. CODES OF ETHICS/PRACTICE Principles in Codes of Ethics Every human being, regardless of racial origin, age, sex, beliefs, and socio-economic status, has a right to maximise his/her potential providing it does not infringe upon the rights of others. Every society has an obligation to provide for and deal equitably with all its members and to make extra provision for those persons who by reasons of disability or misfortune are disadvantaged. The human services/social worker in professional practice has an obligation to utilise all available skills and knowledge to promote the well being of individuals, groups and communities.

5. Principles cont… The human services worker has a professional obligation to give clients all knowledge, information and skills, which will assist clients, and client groups realise their maximum human potential. The human services workers as a practitioner within complex social structures has an obligation to safeguard the human value of all persons encountered in practice.

6. Values and Ethics (Zita Weber) VALUES: The customs, standards of conduct, and principles considered desirable by a culture, a group or people, or an individual. ETHICS: A system of moral principles and perceptions about right versus wrong and the resulting philosophy of conduct that is practiced by an individual, group, professional or culture.

7. VALUES The practitioners use of self in the professional relationship, that is, your personal values, affect how you practice. So that the important concept of values is not something that is ad hoc we need to have a standard by which to gauge our value based decision making.

8. AASW Code of Ethics FIVE CORE VALUES: n Human dignity and worth n Social justice n Service to humanity n Integrity n Competency

9. A RULE OR PRINCIPLE THAT IS NOT DERIVED FROM VALUES BUT FROM ANOTHER SOURCE IS NOT AN ETHICAL RULE. Such a rule may be a bureaucratic rule, a principle derived from practice wisdom, or something else, but it is not an ethical rule. (O’Hara & Weber, 2006).

10. ETHICS IS A “SCIENCE” OF CHOOSING?? Rather than being a matter of abstract thought, or rules and law, or predictability and universality In practice, being ethical is a combination of reason and intuition Reason = a concern for principles and consequences Intuition = a concern for care, relationships and context So, Ethics is about finding our “voice” (what we believe) not just about applying rules and theories.

11. Ethical Issues in Human Services n Confidentiality n Consequences of action or decisions n Respect between client and worker and organisation n Law breaking for ‘good intentions’ n Not reporting breaking of law by client (eg an escaped refugee detainee) n Morals vs cultural beliefs n Relationship between client and worker (too much? too little?) n Societal values, government values n Your duty vs our belief in the right thing to do n Will someone be harmed by the actions of client or worker?

12. ETHICAL ISSUES Cont….. s Conflicting values of client, worker, agency, government and society s When something is good for one person but could harm someone else s When what is best for the client is not what they want s Protecting client rights – is it always our priority? s Can all client’s make their own decisions – impaired capacity s Maintaining values and behaviour – in the face of what?

13. Ethical Issues Cont…. n Use and abuse of power n Personal involvement – client/worker boundaries n Treating clients equally n Consistency n Do we need rules? n Trusting work colleagues – what would diminish our trust? n Biases – culture, gender, sexuality, religion n Worker setting the agenda or hidden agendas n Allocation of resources: who, how, what, when where and why?

14. Ethical Issues Cont…. n Duty of care n Conflict of interest n Dobbing in workers n Flexibility of agency policy n Sickies n Gossip n Work load n Taking advantage of vulnerable adults: Stealing, manipulation, etc. n Not sharing information n Counselling alleged perpetrators n Racist attitudes in the workplace n Imposing personal values or beliefs on clients

15. Ethical Issues Cont….. n Using agency for personal gain n Careerism n Inefficiency and waste n Interaction and intervention with families n Desired activities vs funding requirements n Confidentiality and minors

16. What is the difference between n AN ETHICAL ISSUE n AN ETHICAL DILEMMA n BAD PRACTICE n A MORAL DILEMMA

17. Ethics – by His Holiness the Dalai Lama “ Ethics is a stage of mind that abstains from engaging in any situation or event that would prove harmful to others. The perfection of ethics is accomplished when you have developed to the ultimate point the conviction not to harm others. Ethics is like a cool rain, which extinguishes the fire of attachment, hatred, and anger within you. The intention with which you should undertake the practice of ethics should be non- attachment, non-hatred, and also right view”.

18. SO, CAN WE GET IT RIGHT?

19. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION