Ethical Dilemmas in Social Work

Ethical Dilemmas in Social WorkPashan DeShieldsIntroduction passim the years of creation a cordial thespian, a person peck come across many different ethical quandarys. An ethical dilemma involves being faced with a stain where a decision mustiness be made under circumstances where ethical principles argon in conflict. Dealing with these types of things, there is really no perfect answer that earth-closet conform to all of the ethical principles in the professional codes. Due to the feature that kind chokeers micturate established guide lines for herculean views, we merchantman do better decision do.Ethical Dilemma. Jennifer, 23, is a student working at a halfway house for men on parole, who be likewise substance abusers. This is part of her final 480 hour field internship. Jennifer is in rightfulness attracted to dodgy, a 26-year-old, handsome lymph gland who is likewise quite charming. She finds it genuinely difficult to stay off responding to his flatterin g, flirtatious advances. She is halfway through her placement and is finding it extremely difficult non to respond to dicey and secretly date him. The agency has a strict policy that no worker should date a lymph gland inside six months after either have left the agency. Jennifer finds herself absent thinking ab turn out him much of the time. She feels that shes losing control.Professional values that declare to the dilemma. A professional value cited in the NASW Code of Ethics that was utilise in this case in Integrity. It tells us how fond workers should continuously be aware of their mission, values, as well as ethical standards. (p.6) Jennifer for lolls her mission and the standards required to obtain this career. She was there on her internship and take oned herself to exit caught up in a conflict of interest. In the code, it describes the precautions needed when approach this kind of dilemma. At all times, social workers should be alert and assay to avoid having co nflicts of interest.Workers professional role and boundary issues baffling. Jennifer is winning on the role as an intern which means that she should be interest the guide lines for the Social workers ethical responsibilities to the client. One of the boundaries that have been cross is Conflicts of Interest. According to the code, social workers should not engage in any dual races with clients or former clients (p.9). They should establish appropriate boundaries. This applies to Jennifer and Slys situation since they some(prenominal) cannot resist the flirting and are hiding their dating life. They are involved in a dual relationship. She is already in colza with rate of where she is interning, who gave a strict rule of no dating clients within six months of leaving the agency.Another boundary that has been broken is Sexual Relationships. This tells us that for no reason should a social worker participate in any type of sexual contact with a client, whether it was consented or forced. (p.13) Jennifer and Sly may not have had a moment of intimacy, but gibe to the dilemma, they are close to doing so. She cant resist his advances and is finding it ticklish to control herself in secretly dating him. They are young, optimistic, and flirtatious it is very possible that a mishap can occur.What emotions, wants, and needs dexterity remember the worker involved in the scenario? It could appear that she is looking for an outlet herself and has free-base it in this relationship. Sometimes we search for answers through things, hoping that we will find our supporter as well. It is very historic that a social worker is hearty and whole in every aspect of their life. As a social worker, you have been given trust by your patients that you will help them pay back what they need and live a fulfilled life.Alternatives available for the worker to take. Although Jennifer feels that her situation is becoming too much, there is alternatives that she can take to less en the nervous strain of the situation. Since she is attracted to him and is very tempted by him, she should address her feelings, sooner than later. She is halfway through with her internship and to not look bad, she should tell the site director. There, the supervisor or her educator can tell her what may be the best route for her to take in regards to her maybe later being employed at which she is interning. Or perhaps there should be a termination of the professional relationship. She should let Sly know that she will no longer be professionally working with him and find him another practitioner where he could still get trained help from. Or, she could even just keep what has already been going on a secret. She and Sly can secretly date and wait until the 6 month rule has expired that allows her to date a client.Potential arbitrary and negative consequences for each alternative. Weighing the pros and cons of each alternative is a greenness perspective in various aspects of social work practice. It is besides usable in resolving ethical dilemmas. A pro in being upfront with her supervisor is that she will perchance gain respect. She could tell the truth about her and Sly and how now avoiding him is hard and she doesnt want to go against the code. The supervisor will see that the intern is aware of her professional responsibilities and wants to swan the upmost respect of her patient. She could keep her internship and the client could possibly be relocated. Or, the supervisor may not trust Jennifer still being at the site since she has acted unethically. He/she may have to report her which could lead to Jennifer missing out on a good job opportunity. This record may also follow her to future job employments.Then, there is terminating the client. If they terminate Sly as a client, a positive would be that she wont be distracted in her work place. She can be more cogitate in completing her internship. This is usually the approach that is used for tho se who have been involved in dual relationships. Also, Sly can really continue to get the help that he needs instead of being at the installation flirting with the newly, young worker. However, in a termination, the clients reaction to things can be very negative. Sly can go into a mode of self-discipline or even rage. He may not believe that they are removing him or even get mad that Jennifer is allowing this to happen. By being enraged, this could also cause Sly to relapse back into his substance abuse.Lastly, she could keep the accost between them a secret. The pro in this is that she can continue to work on landing a good job while establishing a relationship with someone she likes. Due to the fact that Jennifer has already stated the licking in trying to be in a secretive relationship, this could very quickly turn into a negative. She could ultimately be looked down on and could lose respect and a job. Also, she and Slys relationship may not even be long lasting for her to be risking her career. She would be better off being upfront and showing concern with pursuance the code and respecting what is asked of her by the job instead of keeping it a secret, possibly ending up with the same outcome. Professionally, it would look better for her to do so.How might each alternative affect the client and the worker/client relationship? Ways in which the alternatives can affect the client and the worker/client relationship can come in a lot of forms. fill that the worker should take that would be the most ethical and appropriate for both(prenominal) worker and client? Ethical choices must be made to allow people to survive and thrive, existing with their basic needs met. There must be a decision made in regards to what is best for the social worker to take. However, before that decision has been made, critical thinking has had to have interpreted place. It is imperative to use critical thinking and ethical decision making to achieve the optimal result. She should talk the issue over with her supervisor or get counseling help. Face and evaluate the serious negative consequences for both her and Sly. Ultimately, she should terminate their professional relationship, referring Sly to another practitioner so that his function will continue.Extent to which individual professional discretion is required. It is very important that when dealing with a situation like this, nothing is said or done that causes offense or reveals any private information. You have taken an swearword to the service of humanity and to social justice. As a professional, the public assistance of your patient is your first priority and the main focus is to make trustworthy the client receives what he/she needs.ConclusionSadly, the pattern associated with Jennifers unethical exponentiation is noticed in a small percentage of social workers, who have been associated with inappropriate behavior with their clients. Although this behavior is known, many social workers h ave upheld their oath and maintain a high expectancy of the honor and tradition of the social work profession.