Introduction
Codes of ethical standards have been established for many purposes, including contributing to an occupation’s professional credentials, building and sustaining professional status, guiding experts’ behavior, and protecting people from fraud or exploitation. The social work practice is committed to the well-being and self-actualization of all individuals and the advancement and conscientious application of research and professional expertise.
Every career is built on a foundation of ethical conduct, and social workers do not condone prejudice. Social workers, in particular, will not allow discrimination based on age, ability, ethnic origin, sexuality, dialect, relationship status, cultural ancestry, political allegiance, racism, religion, or economic status. This paper examines and evaluates the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) and Aboriginal moral codes and their applications in social work ethics. Additionally, the report will discuss several theoretical approaches to ethics.
The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW)
The CASW ethical codes stipulate that social workers should conform to the following critical elements of social work. First, social laborers are obliged to appreciate people’s fundamental moral worth (Turner, 2017). Social work is based on a lengthy devotion to respecting each individual’s inherent dignity and worth. When social workers are obligated by legislation to overturn a customer’s requirements, they utilize the minor force possible. Social workers acknowledge and appreciate Canada’s multiculturalism, considering the variety of distinctions across people, households, institutions, and society.
Second, social workers should know that people, independently and collaboratively, commit to offering supplies, services, and possibilities for humanity’s greater good and safeguard them from harm. Social workers advocate for social justice and balanced resource allocation and aim to remove obstacles and improve choice for all people, emphasizing those who are excluded, underprivileged, or susceptible (Turner, 2017). Social workers condemn discriminatory practices against any individual or group of individuals on any basis and particularly reject ideas and behaviors that characterize specific individuals or groups.
Lastly, as a primary professional purpose, the social work practice emphasizes engagement to benefit others commensurate with social equality. Social employees balance individual requirements, privileges, and liberties with common goals to better people’s legal expertise. When working professionally, social workers prioritize excellent services over personal gain and exercise their control and responsibility in a structured and accountable manner that benefits society (Turner, 2017). Social work aids in the improvement of instruction that aid in the betterment of disputes and their numerous implications.
The Aboriginal Code of Ethics
Indigenous populations exhibit specific languages, understandings, and beliefs and immensely valuable awareness about techniques for sustainable resource administration. They have a unique relationship with and use of their ancestral lands. Aboriginal peoples share a common civilization and modern slavery relocation (Anderson, 2019). The following are some of the codes of ethical standards that guide the indigenous group. First, each day as individuals rise and each evening before they sleep, it is moral to express gratitude to the creator (Anderson, 2019). Secondly, appreciation is a fundamental tenet of life, and people are expected to acknowledge the councilors’ enlightenment.
Third, once an idea is shared, it becomes universal and applicable in any context. Forth, people should provide their guests with the finest cuisine and amenities since suffering is the suffering of all. Honor for one is dignity for all (Anderson, 2019). Fifth, all races are descended from the creator and must be treated with respect. Serving others and being beneficial to one’s household, neighborhood, or country is one of the primary reasons individuals are created, as true happiness is available to those who devote their lives to serving others.
Lastly, individuals must recognize the factors that contribute to their well-being and those that contribute to their demise (Anderson, 2019). People within the community should expect instruction to manifest in various ways: through prayer, dreams, tranquility, and the statements and behavior of elders and relatives.
The Application of Aboriginal ethics and CASW code of ethics
The CASW and the Aboriginal code of ethics have the following as discussed in common. First, they believe that each individual is distinctive and has intrinsic, inherent value. Each individual has a claim to wellness, self-fulfillment, and consciousness that is compatible with the values and cultures of others and that promotes a sustainable future.
The two ethical codes uphold each person’s innate decency, value, and independence, safeguard individual and collective human liberties, provide compassionate service, and are mindful of their duty of care and obligation to avoid causing harm to others. Additionally, they promote interpersonal well-being, sovereignty, equality, and psychological and community responsibility while taking into account the rights of others while acknowledging and respecting collective identity, interaction, solidarity, and the communal requirements of everyone.
Second, they are steered in all dimensions of individual conduct by the principles of transparency, integrity, and moral personality. Both ethical principles place a higher premium on the requirements of others than on selfish enrichment and actively support the prudent use of power and responsibility in ways that benefit civilization. Correspondingly, they promote thoughtful and insightful self-awareness when making and legitimizing decisions and correctness, disclosure, and oversight when making judgments and taking actions.
Lastly, they believe that justice is a fundamental ideal that everybody must develop and preserve for the greater good of society and the individuals with whom they collaborate. The two ethical guidelines promote ideas, procedures, and circumstances that safeguard human dignity and work to provide access, fairness, engagement, and protection. Additionally, they advance justice and equity by removing barriers and increasing opportunity and capacity for all people, emphasizing those who are poor, defenseless, repressed, or have unique requirements.
However, the CASW and the Aboriginal codes of ethics differ in some aspects, as enumerated below. The CASW derives its principles from legally-established moral standards, whereas the Aboriginal code of ethics is based on generally existing community norms and values. For instance, the CASW is generated from the Canadian Code of Ethics Act, which stipulates the relationship of social workers with various variables within their social context. On the other hand, the Aboriginal moral codes are founded on the spiritual and the community accepted behavior and culture. Additionally, the CASW applies specifically to social workers in Canada, while the Aboriginal constitutes all members of the society regardless of their social status, gender, and cultural background.
Theoretical Approaches to Ethics
Utilitarianism
Utilitarian moral hypotheses are predicated on an individual’s capacity to anticipate the outcome of an action. It maintains that the most favorable method for reaching a consensus on the right priorities for civilization is to analyze the different guidelines that a legislature could compare and correlate the benefits and drawbacks (Tseng & Wang, 2021). The ethically appropriate course of action would be selecting the strategy that yields the maximum value.
Utilitarianism is classified as either act utilitarianism or rule utilitarianism (Tseng & Wang, 2021). Act utilitarianism adheres exactly to utilitarianism’s description, which suggests that individuals should commit acts that advantage the greatest number of people, despite personal emotions or societal restrictions such as regulations (Tseng & Wang, 2021). Rule utilitarianism considers the constitutional provision and is concerned with justice (Tseng & Wang, 2021). A utilitarian rule aims to empower the greatest number of people possible but in the most equitable and just manner possible. Thus, one of the positive considerations of rule utilitarianism is that it appreciates equality while also including beneficence.
Rules and Duty: Deontology
In rights-based moral philosophy, the rights implemented by civilization are guarded and prioritized. Due to the widespread acceptance of rights, they are regarded as morally correct and legitimate (Tseng & Wang, 2021). People may also endow others with fundamental freedoms if they possess the capacity and facilities to do so. For instance, an individual may say that they will lend their laptop to a friend for the night. The friend who was granted the borrowing capacity for the laptop now has a night right to it. Society must decide which rights it wishes to protect and bestow on its residents (Tseng & Wang, 2021). To ascertain which rights to implement, a society must first establish its objectives and ethical preferences. Thus, for the deontology theory to be beneficial, it must be combined with other moral frameworks that continuously explain society’s aspirations.
Virtue Theory
The virtue approach to ethics evaluates individuals based on their personality rather than on conduct that deviates from their typical behavior. It considers the individual’s integrity, credibility, and intention when assessing unique and irregular actions deemed immoral (Herschel & Miori, 2017). For example, if a person plagiarizes a section and is later discovered by a colleague, the peer familiar with the individual will comprehend the individual’s behavior and criticize the friend appropriately. Suppose the plagiarizer generally respects the rules and is well-liked by his peers. In that case, the peer who discovers the duplicated section may pass judgment more favorably on their friend. On the other hand, an individual with a record of examination malpractices is more likely to face punitive penalties for plagiarism due to their consistent record of immoral practices.
Learnings Acquired from the Ethics Course
In today’s world, ethics permeates all spheres of existence. Ethics has grown increasingly essential in education, as learning is a necessary element of human existence. As a result, ethics is a critical part of the educational process. Through undertaking the ethics course, I acquired the following, as elaborated below. First, I have been exposed to both acceptable and erroneous ethical actions through case studies and journals that offer ethical issues, allowing me to experience the intricacies of ethics directly. Such pedagogical practices can serve as an example for learners of what sound ethical thinking appears. Second, I obtained critical reasoning and leadership abilities associated with rational decision-making and was rated as a top management school graduate’s principal characteristics. The advancement of ethical decision-making abilities has enabled students to convert a competitive edge into a wonderful career while also preparing them to become prospective corporate executives.
Lastly, the lesson exposed me to alternative ideas and perspectives. Ethical principles are shaped by the environment and nurturing of each individual. For many people, college is the primary opportunity to journey from home and encounter competing ideas. Therefore, ethical debates introduce students to differing ethical viewpoints and present a possibility to comprehend the rationale behind the discrepancies. As a result, individuals can improve their grasp of ethics, occasionally even revising their principles and conscientious decision-making process.
How the Ethics Course Content will Impact my Social Work Practice
First, above all else, a social laborer’s fundamental objective is to support the well-being of their customers. Therefore, I will strive to maximize the company’s clients’ self-determination. I will only support customers in the framework of a work capacity and with voluntary participation and communicating with consumers in plain and straightforward language about their products. Second, in my practice, I will safeguard the sensitive data provided to the organization by my coworkers in work relationships. Creating specific moral and professional commitments as an integrated team is critical when collaborating with other disciplines.
Lastly, when it is in the customer’s best interest, I will communicate with other specialists in their specialty. Given that social workers are obligated to be candid about their competence, it is evident that the same standards apply when consulting. Therefore, supervisors monitoring us should supervise and engage only when they possess the relevant expertise. Moreover, it will be prudent to track social laborers to conduct a mature and equitable evaluation of their supervisees’ effectiveness.
Conclusion
In conclusion, moral values and standards are restricted to professionalism and apply to people’s way of life. Codes of ethics have been formed for various goals, including enhancing an occupation’s certifications, establishing and maintaining professional success, regulating expert conduct, and safeguarding individuals from deception or victimization. The ethics curriculum introduces students to both suitable and improper ethical behavior through case reports that discuss ethical concerns, permitting them to encounter the complexities of morals firsthand. Therefore, ethics is an integral part of society and should be taught, and general guidelines are laid down in workplaces to foster equality and just practices.
References
Anderson, I. (2019). Ethics and health research in Aboriginal communities. In Ethical Intersections (pp. 153-165). Routledge.
Herschel, R., & Miori, V. M. (2017). Ethics & big data. Technology in Society, 49, 31-36. Web.
Tseng, P. E., & Wang, Y. H. (2021). Deontological or utilitarian? An eternal ethical dilemma in the outbreak. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), 8565. Web.
Turner, F. J. (Ed.). (2017). Social work treatment: Interlocking theoretical approaches. Oxford University Press.