The Potential Problem Of Social Workers

In this paper, the role of a social worker will be addressed. A Human Service professional has, in its hands, the responsibilities in the life of the clients and families they meet. The tremendous and arduous responsibilities they take on include, but are not limited to, the well-being and care of people and their communities. Such roles can be helping others manage the care of a family member, assisting individuals experiencing problems with family relations and conflicts, dealing with changes that come with growing old, aiding those suffering mental illness and or those individuals struggling with addictions. Briefly

In the human services field it’s likely workers will have contact with the court and legal system. The differences in the human services profession and the legal systems can become challenging for workers. Such as dissimilarities in prerogatives and values, prove this challenge for human services workers (Kennedy, Richards, & Leiman, 2013). Human service work practice requires an understanding of social policy’s impact in specific areas. As practitioners grasping how theories concerning fundamental principals of social policy have implications for human services agencies and for the individuals who are the users of the services (Carson & Kerr, 2014). This paper will discuss a case observed at Beenleigh Magistrates Courthouse. It will also look at the multiple roles and responsibilities of Human Service professionals appearing in the legal system, as well as the importance of ethical writing and possible tensions between the legal system and human services profession.

Social workers routinely find themselves making important decisions concerning their clients ethical issues or dilemmas. Sometimes the worker has time to weigh all possible problem-solving options available to them. However, most times the workers are on their own in finding the best solutions for their clients. No matter the situation, a worker should always do everything in their

Social workers work in a variety of different settings, some of these are; mental institutions, child protection services, hospitals, counselling for individuals, families, groups, couples, working with youth, interventions, parenting strategies, welfare, helping the poor, migrants, communities and there are many more.( The Code of Ethics 1999, p. 8) under 3 Values and Principals 3.2.1 Principles a) clearly states that “Social workers promote distributive justice and social fairness, acting to reduce barriers and expand choice and potential for all persons, with special regard for those who are disadvantaged, vulnerable, oppressed, or have exceptional needs”.

Now that we have a general idea of what Social Justice is, Let us further take a look into the eyes of what it means to be a “Social Worker”.

Social workers unlike before are now agents of social control maintaining the social systems. Due to the arise of social change, this new requirement has them taking on something with little to do with their actual job of being an advocate of people in need. They now find themselves in surveillance mode over society instead of working to actually support the people through an active role. In turn, they now have to have a general awareness towards situations they didn’t have to have a concern about. A social worker’s role has always been an active role working with service users, but also within this agent of social control they have a lot more responsibility resulting in a lot of casework for themselves.

Q.1 Social workers in an advocate role will attempt to advance the rights of their client while simultaneously attempting to empower them. The advocacy role requires the worker to collaborate with the client to identify gaps between where the client is, where they need to be and identify barriers where support is required. The worker may advocate by speaking on behalf of the client or by linking the client to resources. Advocating for clients on micro, mezzo or macro levels provides an opportunity for Social Workers to link their practice with the profession 's requirement to pursue social justice. Advocacy can take many forms such as; developing strategies that reduce poverty, identifying and eliminating oppressive practices, improving living conditions, addressing unjust social policy, highlighting discriminatory practices or advancing human rights.

In the Preamble of the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers it is stated that “the primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty” (Socialworkers.org, 2008). Social workers must consider the many levels that accompany each case and also remember to consult the Code of Ethics so that they can effectively and ethically meet the needs of their clients.

The social work profession is a helping one that focuses on people of all ages, culture, economical status, ethnicity, gender, and political affiliation. Promoting social justice while being ethical conscious is an essential requirement for professionals practicing in the field of social work. Possessing the ability to act ethically is important because it affects the quality of the services offered to the population we serve. Being a social worker is far from an easy feat due to the difficulties and complexities of the job. This is due to its different settings accompanying different tasks.

Social work is one of the noblest professions today, particularly considering that the primary responsibility of social workers is to help in making people's lives better by acting as advocates for the disadvantaged (Berg-Werger, 2013). Apart from this, the uniqueness of the profession lies in its scope of practice, which is very broad, as well as the strong values on which it is entrenched. More importantly, social workers are one among the persons that are highly committed to economic as well as social justice (Berg-Weger, 2013). These are the same features that make social work a sensitive, demanding profession. To be precise, social workers are prone to facing legal charges on account of having violated ethical standards.

The role of a social worker is to promote the well-being of people in diverse environments. The array of settings which a social worker uses to promote their skills are known as micro, mezzo, and macro. By utilizing these settings social workers are able to endorse the “equal rights, protection, opportunities, obligations, and social benefits,” which is what social justice entails as stated in the textbook Human Behavior in the Macro Social Environment. Social workers seek to change the lives of those who are oppressed by providing solutions to the dilemma that lies in front of them. Social workers play many roles such as identifying if a situation is right or wrong and if something is wrong how it may become a right. They also counsel in order

Should a social worker follow the rules even if it means it conflicts with an ethical issue or should the social worker look out for their client even if it would cost them their license? Ethical dilemmas are on the ongoing standard issue among social workers in practice, to follow each rule and guideline is one thing but when put in a bind on choosing following the rules in a life or death situation that is when the issue surfaces. “Although the new Code of Ethics offers a set of values, principles, and standards to guide the decision-making conduct when ethical issues arise, . . . it does not provide a set of rules that prescribe how social workers should act in all situations” (Mattison, 2000, p. 203). In the two scenarios listed below both are ethical dilemmas that push the boundaries of right and wrong. Each social worker will try to follow the ethical principles, standards, and values of the Code of Ethics but they will also learn to come to terms with the fact that no one answer is the correct answer. When addressing ethical principles in social work, it is the understanding of the six core values: service, social justice, dignity and worth of a person, importance of the human relationship, integrity, competence according to the Code of Ethics. The service of the social worker is to help those in need by putting others first before their needs. They are also there to challenge social injustice by pursuing social change on behalf of individuals who have been oppressed

Interprofessional conversations among and between diverse professionals can increase our capacity to perceive information in more complex and flexible ways. Social workers have an important worldview to bring to lawyers, as do lawyers to social workers. (Slater & Finck 2012). Social workers and lawyers can work side by side to solve any ethical situation that is placed before them. Lawyers and social workers in reality are similar because both are held to very high standards of confidentiality and ethics. A lawyer and social worker could work together on child abuse case for instance if Trystyn the lawyer is handling Susie the mom with three kids and a alcoholic husbands case and he knows social worker Jane is involved too the lawyer and social

Within this essay I will discuss how Laws and social policy are formed, developed and what the legislation intendeds to do. I will also discuss why the legislation has being developed in the practice area from a recent and historical perspective. Finally I will discuss what recent legislative and policy changes have happened in the practice area and what the impact upon service users and social workers is due to the changes.

An advocate strives to merit individuals of the utmost vulnerable kind with the power of speech and expression, on matters that hold delicate significance to the client. Activism for the susceptible comprises of the fortification and conservancy of their human rights. Social workers and counselors play a vital role in advocacy in the local, state and federal government and should deed as a voice not solely for their patrons but for society as a whole. Counselors and social workers are an instrument that individuals do and ought to use in attempt to advocate for their rights, a client can participate in activism by sharing their personal experiences. Social workers and counselors provide assistance to clients by aiding them in gaining rights, they do so by creating, advocating and passing bills. A social worker and counselors ultimate goal is to provide equal rights and justice for their clients (SAGE Publications).