The Moral Code: Ethics in the Workplace

The ethical guidelines for human service professionals mandate that, “Human service professionals respect the integrity and welfare of the client at all times.” (Freeman, S. J. 2000)

The first ethical issue in this situation is connected with privacy and confidentiality. Every human service agency is obligated to protect the client's right to privacy and confidentiality by assuring the integrity, safety, and security of client records (National Organization for Human Services, 2015). Although, now the agency clients are expressing a verbal consent for the housekeeping staff member to use their information and “counsel” them, his lack of qualification may lead to the spreading of this information to third parties. The clients have trusted their private information to the agency, and in case of further information leakage the agency will be fully responsible for the harm caused by it.

Chapter 3 explains the importance of ethical competence specific to the human services field. As a professional it is important to know and understand an organizations code of ethics, as it will be a reference tool in how to handle certain situations you are faced with. Human service professionals enter into the profession with a personal set of values, goals and ethical conduct but, must always remember that their actions should always reflect the values and ethics of the company they are now a part of (site). In the event of an ethical issue a professional should always refer the ethical standards to determine what action should be taken (site). Ethics are also in place to facilitate legal implications that stem from malpractice lawsuits.

Some health care professional who are not committed to the care value base may treat service users unfairly. For example, a care worker that is not demonstrating the role of empathy may not want to listen or respect the ideals of the service users because the care worker is not in their position and do not see things from service users point of view. It is important for health care professionals to be committed and being honest with themselves in order to make sure that they are providing equal care to their service users. Careful use of language

Human services is a profession developed in response to the direction of human needs and human problems in the 1960's (Taylor,2015) Characterized by an appreciation of human beings in all of their diversity, human services offers assistance to its clients within the context of their communities and environments (Taylor,2015) The educator of Human service professional, guide to promote and motivate the distinctive values and characteristics of human services. Therefore, human service professionals sustain integrity and ethics of the job, encourage clients, communities, and magnify their own professional development. Some of the basic values of the human services profession include respecting the dignity and happiness of clients; promoting self-determination; respecting cultural differences; advocating for social equality; and to act with integrity, honor, kindness and fairness. Human service professionals utilize these standards in ethical and professional decision making (O’Brien,2010) Conflicts can occur from the code and laws, policies in the work place, cultural practices, credentialing boards, and personal beliefs (O’Brien,2010) A Human service professional should display their ethical-decision making during situations to assure they’re making careful choices.

2.Demonstrate a working knowledge of the Ethical Standards for Human Service Professionals and the consequences of non-compliance.

Human service professional’s main focus is to successfully deliver and to meet human needs. As a professional for human services, an individual must have knowledge and commitment to delivering the highest quality level of services to their client or client’s issues to improve their client’s quality of living. Human services have several of roles depending on their professions. Some roles may include learning to build relationships with clients, finding the right resources for clients, additional training and technology skills. In addition to several of roles, as a human service professional, it is very important to practice the ethical responsibilities that come within human services when dealing with clients on daily basis.

A human service professional, plays a major role in society, working side-by-side with various professionals, and assumes a wide range of roles to assist individuals, groups, organizations and communities. Although human service professionals do not necessarily do in depth and psychotherapy, they are well-equipped to facilitate client change and growth typically by working directly or indirectly with clients around concrete tasks, objectives, and goals. A counselor, broker, advocate, case manager, community planner and behavior specialists are just few of the roles of a human service professional. (Lincoln University)

I feel that an individual should have a foundation in ethics in relation to health care. It is important because the community puts their trust into health care organizations and professionals. According to Flite and Harman (2013), an organization must have a code of ethics in order to maintain the community’s trust.

Ethical dilemmas are a struggle for all human service professionals such as discrimination, displaying empathy and recognizing a client’s unmet needs. Discrimination is the knowledge or carelessness of destroying another’s self-esteem by focusing on their disability. Overcoming discrimination for many individuals can be a battle that they may sometimes succumb to without proper assistance and failure of the worker to apply the ethical standards properly. In the National Organization of Human Services Handbook listed in the responsibility to the Community and Society section statement seventeen is found, “Human service professionals provide services without discrimination or preference based on age, ethnicity, culture, race, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status.” (NOWS, Adopted 1996)

The Human Service Professionals are a group of individuals whose job is specifically to serve the society, educate them and work for the societal welfare at large. In the twentieth century, organizational ethics have gained immense importance in the corporate world. The need to adhere to ethical standards is even greater for the human service professionals and those who educate them. This is because any deviance from ethical standards can question the integrity of human service professions and can raise question on the standards of social welfare. This is unhealthy for the trust relationships of the society over human service individuals.

In the workplace as well as one’s personal life is essential for ethics to be maintained; often taking the right action is not always the most popular choice. It is important for maintaining an upstanding ethical code of conduct to be a productive individual as well as function as an employee in the workplace.

In the human services field, personal ethical belief systems combined with professional ethics work in partnership to guide human service professionals in unraveling ethical dilemmas. An increasing number of professionals and clients seek out to define the fundamental policies of the human services field. Humans develop an integration of values, standards, and beliefs from birth throughout life. The values, standards, and beliefs developed through life assist in characterizing personal ethical belief systems. Our personal ethical belief system unites with our professional ethics to shape the ethical decision-making process. A code of ethics is essential

After examining the videos from this week, both women made some very valid points on key characteristics of human service professionals. I think one of the main prominent characteristics that a human service professional should exhibit is the commitment to making a change in individuals’ lives. When a human service professional is focused on making change they will do everything in their power to add to their professionalism. For example, when this is a component that they possess, they will be committed to training to help the clients better; they will make themselves flexible to broaden their abilities to helping in different areas no matter of their title (Duncan, Video). For the Bible declares, “The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped” (Proverbs 11:25, MSG).

It is recognised under the Equal Status Acts, 2000-2008, that a crucial part of ensuring respect for inherent dignity and worth of persons includes: upholding human rights within your work, i.e. treating each person in a caring and respectable fashion; respecting the rights and dignity of people regardless of age, gender, sexuality, race, disability etc.; ensuring that service users relationships i.e. family and other relationships remain respected. (Government of Ireland, 2011, P8)