Social Work Professional Values 3: How to Distinguish Values from Ethics and Examples of Dilemmas

“Aren't values and ethics the same word?” This is a question I ask a lot when I take a social work class for the first time. The two sayings are connected, but they have different roles. This article illustrates the difference between values and ethics, and outlines the professional value of social services.

How do values and ethics differ?

Values are beliefs about what is good and desirable. For example, the idea that “everyone deserves respect” is a value. Ethics is the standard by which we judge what is right and what is wrong when we put those values into action. It comes up as a rule of thumb, like “So I keep client secrets.” That's why we sometimes describe ethics as “values of action.”

This classification is often treated as a basic question in social work qualification exams and interviews, so it is good to organize it so that those who are preparing for a career can explain it in their own words.

3 professional values of social welfare

Levi divided the value of the social work profession into three categories: People-first values are values about people themselves, such as the belief that humans are inherently valuable beings and have the ability to change. Outcome-First Values are values of desirable outcomes that society needs to meet basic needs of individuals and ensure that everyone has an equitable opportunity. MeansFirst value is the value of how we deliver our services, just as we treat our clients with respect and help them make their own decisions. Perspectives that believe in a person's potential are also linked to documented strengths.

오답은 이유까지 한 줄 적어 두니까 같은 실수를 덜 하게 되더라고요. 시험 전주에는 모의 시험 한 번을 실제처럼 풀어 본 게 저한테는 도움이 됐어요.

A moment when values collide

In the field, good values often bump into each other. For example, if an elderly person living alone refuses to enter a facility despite his or her health deteriorating, should he or she respect his or her right to self-determination or prioritize protection for safety? There are situations where confidentiality and the safety of others may conflict. In this ethical dilemma, it is important to use the Code of Conduct and ethical decision-making principles to make sound judgments, document the process, and consult with peers or supervisors. Even in the same situation, the conclusion can vary depending on the client's judgment ability, the degree of risk, and the support of the family and the local area, so it is necessary to practice establishing the basis of judgment step by step rather than memorizing one correct answer.

How to Write an Assignment Compared to Your Value

Self-value comparison tasks differ in values and ethics Professional values of → social work The values → I value and their similarities to background → professional values, and what you may encounter You can write them in the order of your commitment as a → prospective social worker. Writing your experience into one specific scene brings authenticity to life. For example, think about a time when you had to respect the choices of someone you met in a volunteer activity, or a time when you had to accept a decision that was different from what you thought. Linking the scene to professional values like self-determination and human dignity makes the comparison much clearer. The campus social welfare values and ethics comparison data on page 6, which compares the difference between values and ethics, people-first, results-first, means-first, self-determination, and human dignity with my values, can help to refer to the flow of comparative narratives for those preparing social welfare ethics and philosophy tasks.