Social work can be a very emotionally fulfilling field of work. After all, you have the opportunity to impact lives for the better and there is a connection to something greater than yourself, generating a strong sense of purpose. The field of work is full of chances to help people navigate life and fight their problems head-on with confidence and courage.
However, social work can also be a minefield of ethical conundrums, where it can be challenging to differentiate between right and wrong. Whether you’re a practicing social worker, a recent graduate searching for online MSW jobs, or a student undertaking a Bachelor of Social Work, you’ll likely have encountered the concept of ethical dilemmas in this field of work. In this article, we will go through some common ethical issues and figure out ways to navigate them.
Client Refusal
In some instances, the client may refuse to seek support through counseling or rehabilitation despite having obvious signs of needing assistance. If left unattended and untreated, the client may be a danger to himself or others. This can cause a conflict between self-determination or informed consent and the obligation to protect the client’s and others’ health.
Mandatory Reporting
Social workers are often bound by mandatory reporting of harmful, dangerous, or suspicious activity. A worker’s client might be directly involved in some form of activity that falls under this scope. The social worker would have to report the client, even if it means breaching the trust and confidentiality agreement with them. For instance, a client may divulge a history of inflicting domestic abuse under confidence.
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Belief System
Sometimes, an individual’s belief system may not align with that of the institution they are working for. Nonetheless, the person needs to forget personal biases and continue to complete their work. As an example, a social worker might bat for LGBTQ+ individuals’ right to adopt children independently. However, the social worker may work for an organization that has policies influenced by conservative values, which reject LGBTQ+ adoption applicants. Despite conflicting personal beliefs, the social worker is required to process applications as per the institutional policy and may not openly advocate for change while performing their duties.
Receiving Gifts
After establishing a bond with a client, a social worker may start receiving gifts in all shapes or forms. It could be a handmade card or an extravagant piece of jewellery. It is important to assess the intent, value, and timing of the gift before making a decision. This is because gifts can change the dynamics of a relationship, sprouting seeds of obligation and favoritism. Factoring in the cultural context is also important, as refusal during a festive season may offend a client. Ensure clarification of organizational policies and try to gauge the intent, such as currying favor or showcasing gratitude behind the gifting.
Allocating Resources
Resource allocation is one of the key challenges of a social worker. The resource in question could be a tangible object like a meal or healthcare benefit or even an immaterial thing like dividing time between clients. Every client’s needs may seem of the utmost urgency and importance. However, it is important to balance things out and be wise when dividing the time between clients. For example, a social worker might need to prioritize between a single mother who is to be evicted in 48 hours and requires urgent housing assistance and the weekly appointment of an adolescent who is depressed and showing symptoms of self-harm. It is important to be tactful and divide time judiciously based on urgency, severity, and immediacy of needs.
Conflict of Interest
A social worker may witness a conflict of interest at play in their workplace. They might see one of their colleagues nudging a client towards their friend’s or relative’s business or even receive a monetary ‘gift’ on the side. There could also be a situation of a worker-client relationship evolving into something more personal. In these instances, an individual should choose the path of transparency and report any conflict of interest to the local ombudsman or watchdog.
As stated in the beginning, there is no dearth of ethical rabbit holes in social work. Clients, knowing or unknowingly, will frequently put you in a tough spot where the lines of ethics and morality can get blurred. It is important to be cool-headed in such situations, be conscious of your biases, consult others if necessary, and make a logical final call on a case-by-case basis.
