In a scenario where a colleague believes that a particular subset of clients does not deserve the same attention and care as other groups, several ethical issues arise. The most prominent value that social workers have to uphold is the person’s dignity and worth (National Association of Social Workers [NASW], 2017). It is vital to see that both clients and the broader society are people whose lives are important and inherently valuable.
Thus, the co-facilitator’s words that perpetrators cannot change does not correspond to social workers’ principle of providing opportunities for improvement. Next, the ethical standard of derogatory language can be discussed, as the co-facilitator’s statement diminishes the clients’ possibility to change. Although victims of abuse and maltreatment are a vulnerable population that requires increased attention and care, a social worker should not treat other persons with disrespect in a professional setting.
This issue has to be handled according to the standard of unethical conduct described in the Code of Ethics. The options are to talk to the colleague, discuss the situation with the employer, or report them to the local regulatory body through formal channels. A conversation seems to be the most appropriate and ethical first choice. According to the Code of Ethics, social workers have to decide whether a discussion will be productive (NASW, 2017).
In this case, it appears that the co-facilitator cares deeply about the victims of abuse and can be persuaded to see how social work with perpetrators can positively affect their future actions, thus improving the overall situation. One can base the arguments for this talk on the principles of people’s dignity, social workers’ commitment to clients, and ethical and respectful professional behavior. Otherwise, if the colleague continues to make such remarks or behaves in a way that interferences with the practice, additional actions, such as a report to the local ethics committee, may be necessary.
Reference
National Association of Social Workers. (2017). Code of Ethics: English. Web.