Nasw Social Work Code Of Ethics

Front 1

Preamble

Back 1

Summarizes the social work profession's mission and core values

Front 2

Purpose

Back 2

Provides an overview of the Code's main funtions and a brief guide to dealing with ethical issues or dilemmas in social work

Front 3

Ethical Principles

Back 3

Presents broad ethical mandates that inform social work practice , based on the profession's core values

Front 4

Ethical Standards

Back 4

Includes specific ethical standards to guide social workers' conduct and to provide a basis for professional review of ethical misconduct

Front 5

Primary mission

Back 5

The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well­being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A historic and defining feature of social work is the profession’s focus on individual well­being in a social context and the well­being of society. Fundamental to social work is attention to the environmental forces that create, contribute to, and address problems in living.

Front 6

Core values

Back 6

•service
•social justice
•dignity and worth of the person
•importance of human relationships
•integrity
•competence

Front 7

Six purposes: 1

Back 7

The Code identifies core values on which social work’s mission is based

Front 8

Six purposes: 2

Back 8

2.The Code summarizes broad ethical principles that reflect the profession’s core values and establishes a set of specific ethical standards that should be used to guide social work practice

Front 9

Six purposes: 3

Back 9

3.The Code is designed to help social workers identify relevant considerations when professional obligations conflict or ethical uncertainties arise

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Six purposes: 4

Back 10

4.The Code provides ethical standards to which the general public can hold the social work profession accountable

Front 11

Six purposes: 5

Back 11

5.The Code socializes practitioners new to the field to social work’s mission, values, ethical principles, and ethical standards

Front 12

Six purposes: 6

Back 12

6.The Code articulates standards that the social work profession itself can use to assess whether social workers have engaged in unethical conduct. NASW has formal procedures to adjudicate ethics complaints filed against its members.* In subscribing to this Code, social workers are required to cooperate in its implementation, participate in NASW adjudication proceedings, and abide by any NASW disciplinary rulings or sanctions based on it

Front 13

First Mandate

Back 13

The Code of Ethics is intended to serve as a guide to the everyday professional conduct of social workers. The Code offers a set of values, principles, and standards to guide decision making and conduct when ethical issues arise. It does not provide a set of rules that prescribe how social workers should act in all situations.

Front 14

Second Mandate

Back 14

The Code promotes high standard of practice and protection of consumers

Front 15

Service Ethical Principle

Back 15

Social workers’ primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems.
Social workers elevate service to others above self­interest. Social workers draw on their knowledge, values, and skills to help people in need and to address social problems. Social workers are encouraged to volunteer some portion of their professional skills with no expectation of significant financial return (pro bono service)

Front 16

Social Justice Ethical Principle

Back 16

Social workers challenge social injustice.
Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people. Social workers’ social change efforts are focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice. These activities seek to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers strive to ensure access to needed information, services, and resources; equality of opportunity; and meaningful participation in decision making for all people

Front 17

Dignity and Worth of the Person Ethical Principle

Back 17

Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person.
Social workers treat each person in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual differences and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers promote clients’ socially responsible self­determination. Social workers seek to enhance clients’ capacity and opportunity to change and to address their own needs. Social workers are cognizant of their dual responsibility to clients and to the broader society. They seek to resolve conflicts between clients’ interests and the broader society’s interests in a socially responsible manner consistent with the values, ethical principles, and ethical standards of the profession

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Importance of Human Relathionships Ethical Principle

Back 18

Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships.
Social workers understand that relationships between and among people are an important vehicle for change. Social workers engage people as partners in the helping process. Social workers seek to strengthen relationships among people in a purposeful effort to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the well­being of individuals, families, social groups, organizations, and communities

Front 19

Intergity Ethical Principle

Back 19

Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner.
Social workers are continually aware of the profession’s mission, values, ethical principles, and ethical standards and practice in a manner consistent with them. Social workers act honestly and responsibly and promote ethical practices on the part of the organizations with which they are affiliated

Front 20

Competence Ethical Principle

Back 20

Social workers practice within their areas of competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise.
Social workers continually strive to increase their professional knowledge and skills and to apply them in practice. Social workers should aspire to contribute to the knowledge base of the profession