Introduction
A subject including social work has moral considerations at its core. Social work topics include care for persons with a spectrum of needs, family connections, societal reactions to crime, and requirements resulting from socioeconomic structures. All of these concerns are moral issues that are, in various ways, ingrained in society’s standards and, hence, are loaded with ethical systems. Thus, the decision for social workers is not concerned with their profession and its connection to an ethical component, but rather whether moral concerns are clearly addressed and investigated. In this sense, the major moral dilemmas in social work practice concern confidentiality and accountability.
Confidentiality
Dilemma
Confidentiality could well be interpreted in social work practice as a directive to caseworkers to maintain confidentiality in verbal and written client interactions. Clients provide caseworkers with knowledge and the explicit understanding that it will be confidential. According to scholars, secrecy governs social workers’ behavior as a guideline or standard and functions very simply (Brammer, 2020). As a result, the confidentiality dilemma concerns the social workers’ conflict of interest or inability to perform their duties according to standards.
Solutions
When it comes to the solution to the moral dilemma of confidentiality, social workers must comply with the code of ethics. The given conduct outlines the obligation of the client to maintain integrity and not disclose any information to third parties. According to the code of ethics, social workers must respect their clients’ privacy rights (National Association of Social Workers, n.d.).
Social workers should not ask clients for personal information unless necessary. When private information is disclosed, confidentiality requirements take effect. The solutions to the dilemma involve identifying which aspect is more important – devotion to the job or client. The next step is to evaluate the situation and whether the worker can uphold such confidentiality if the customer has given them sensitive material.
Accountability
Dilemma
Another moral dilemma in social work practice is accountability and the duty to alert clients. Accountability is how social workers explain and defend their decisions to someone who would fairly expect to receive such information (Goosey & Carr, 2021). Social workers have a responsibility not just to inform but also to warn clients (O’Hare, 2019). As a result, the main obligation of the social worker is not to disinform the client or withhold the necessary information since such an approach is also regarded as a conflict of interest.
Solution
Similarly to solving the moral dilemma regarding confidentiality, the solution to the dilemma with accountability is to follow the code of conduct. In this situation, one must first acknowledge the specific standards and then ask oneself several questions that will allow one to identify the problem and tackle the issue (Kelly & Constable, 2021). The solution involves identifying whether the worker withheld the details from the client. Then, the worker should find the possible reasons for it and whether the client understands that details are not disclosed.
Conclusion
Hence, the main moral dilemmas in social work practice include accountability and confidentiality. In the setting of social work practice, confidentiality might very well be understood as a way for caseworkers to uphold confidentiality in both verbal and written conversations with clients. Social professionals must adhere to the code of ethics while resolving the moral conundrum of confidentiality, asking the question of whether they respect the interests of the client. The obligation to warn clients presents another moral dilemma in social work practice. In the same way that adhering to the code of conduct can resolve the moral dilemma surrounding confidentiality, it can also resolve the conundrum of accountability, asking oneself the question regarding withholding the details.
References
Brammer, A. (2020). Social work law. Pearson.
Goosey, D. & Carr, H. (2021). Law for social workers. Oxford University Press.
Kelly, M. S. & Constable, R. (2021). School social work: Practice, policy, and research. Oxford University Press.
National Association of Social Workers. (n.d.). Code of ethics. Web.
O’Hare, T. (2019). Essential skills of social work practice: Assessment, intervention, and evaluation. Oxford University Press.