Running head: Values paper

Values Paper
Lindsay Britcher
DY5085
SW 3010
October 14, 2013

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In the social work practice there are many values that a social worker must follow. These
values are service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human
relationships, integrity, and competence. I believe that I already live by the service value because
I always try and help people that come into my life if they are in need of help. I have always
been a helping person whether it is helping someone in the super market, volunteering, helping a
neighbor, or my family members. The value of social justice is also important to me because I
feel that every single person is entitled to a fair, just life. I do not think that people should be
discriminated against for their age, sex, race, or lifestyle choice. I also think that people should
have fair resources and chances to use these resources if needed and I plan to help any of my
future clients receive these resources when or if they need them. I also value the different
cultures that people are a part of. I enjoy learning about different cultures and lifestyles and I
think this will really help me to be a good social worker since I am not bias to one aspect of a
certain culture. I feel that I am a trust worthy person and I value that about myself. This is also
important to the integrity of the clients I will be serving as a social worker. I know that if
someone is confiding in me, that I am able to keep their issues and personal life private. I have
been helping many of my friends and co-students throughout my life, which has helped me learn
how to respect others privacy. The final value a social worker must have is competence. I am a
competent person and tend to find myself trying to gain more knowledge and know as much as I
can about whatever it is I am working on. As a social worker I know I will need to continue to
learn things as I progress in the social work field. I think this works well fore me because I hold
the value of education very high for myself.

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I feel that my value of being multi-cultural and always learning about different cultures
and religions will help me to follow the code of ethics 1.05 Cultural Competence and Social
Diversity. I enjoy learning about other cultures and religions that are in our society today as well
as learning about other nations cultures and values. Learning about these other cultures has been
something I have practiced doing for some time now. I feel that because I will know what to
expect from certain cultures, I will be less likely to offend or be ignorant to certain manors that
other social workers may not know about. I also will take the time when I am a social worker to
keep up with other cultures. If I get a client that may have a different culture I will make sure to
know what to expect from this person and how to not offend them in ways that Americans may
find non-offensive. I also like to learn about different mental illnesses and other social diversity
that can and will affect the clients that I am working with. As stated above, I value the privacy of
other people. This will also extend to any clients that I will have as a social worker. I am very
good at keeping peoples identities and personal issues to myself and I tend to always practice this
as a social worker. I would never want to hurt someone or make them feel as if they cannot trust
me for any reason. I highly agree with the privacy and confidentiality 1.07 as stated in the
NASW Code of Ethics(2008).
One of the NASW Code of Ethics(2008) that will be difficult for me is 2.09 Impairment
of Colleagues. As I get to know my colleagues on a professional basis I think I would have a
difficult time having to turn them into an employer because of a situation such as distress,
substance abuse, or personal problems affecting themselves. I think I would rather try and help
the colleague myself but I know this is against the Code of Ethics and I hope I never have to deal
with this issue but I know I would have to turn them into the proper authorities. I think I would

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have a hard time with this code because many of my family suffer from drug and alcohol
addiction. I have personally tried to help some of my family member by trying to get them
treatment, or just be there for them but addicts turn into a different person then they used to be
and it is not always possible to help an addict on your own. I think this would cause me a great
deal of stress if I would have to turn in a fellow co-worker because of something like addiction
but I know morally I would have to follow the rules and turn them in. If I were to not turn them
in, something could happen with a client and I could possibly lose my job and license because I
know about the issue and did not take action.
I feel that I would personally have a difficult time advocating for people who suffer
domestic violence. One of my main reasons for thinking this way is because my mother is
currently in a domestically abusive relationship. I have tried to help my mother find treatment or
support groups but she does not want to admit that her girlfriend is abusing her. This has been
very difficult for me since I am going to school to be a social worker to help people in need. I
have personally had to step back from my mothers current relationship because it was beginning
to affect myself and my life. This was one of the most difficult things for me to do but if the
person in the relationship does not want help, I cannot force myself upon them to try and help.
People in abusive relationship also tend to go back to this person even after seeking help, almost
like a drug relapse. I feel that if I were to try and help someone in an abusive relationship that I
would give up on this person and become easily discouraged with the client if they were to
continue to stay with their abusive partner. I believe that I would have to refer this client to
someone else if I ever do have a client in an abusive relationship. I would have to be very careful
in how I would refer this client to someone else. I think I would state to them that I do not feel as

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if I am competent enough to help them to the full extent they deserve, but I do know a social
worker that may fit their needs better. I would have to be careful not to make this person feel as
if I am blaming them for their issues, as well as to not offend them in any way.
I also think if I were to try and help a person in an abusive situation it would be a
conflict of interest because I would keep going back to my mother and her situation which would
be against the code of ethics 1.06. Although I may not want to work with these clients I will still
remain competent of how to help a client in this situation as stated in code of ethics 1.04. I also
will follow the code of ethics 1.16 Termination of Service section b that stats social workers
should take reasonable steps to avid abandoning clients who are still in need of service. This
means that I must hold my ethical standards to not leave this client behind and make sure they
are getting the services they need, even if the service is not with me.
I feel that this assignment helped me to evaluate my own beliefs and values but did not
change my opinion that I will be a good social worker. I think that my values are in line with the
values of the Code of Ethics. My plan to follow the code of ethics is to start practicing them now
in my life. Even though I am not yet a social worker, if I start to memorize and live my life by
the Code of Ethics I feel that when I do finally become a social worker the code will already in
instilled in me and I will not have to try and change how I live my life. As always, there will be
difficult clients in the field to deal with and to help but I have to follow the code and help them to
the best of my ability. As stated above, when I feel that I cannot help someone to the best of my
ability or because of my own values I will then refer them to another social worker if possible.

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References
Workers, N. A. (2008). NASW Code of Ethics (Guide to the Everyday Professional
Conduct of Social Workers). Washington, DC: NASW.