SOAD9207 Integrity in Social Work Practice

This topic explores professional issues in social work practice, focussing particularly on the Australian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. It brings a critical reflective approach to exploring issues of the moral status of social work clients and decision-making in human services and community environments fraught with ethical complexity. The topic covers the moral dilemmas, disagreements and conflicts of interest that arise in a range of practice settings; examines the ethical principles underpinning practice; and examines the choices available to practitioners and the assumptions underlying professional choice. Students will become skilled in deliberating about ethical dilemmas and defending their decisions for practice.

This topic aims to:

• Become familiar with relavant debates within moral philosophy and social theory
• Build links between the AASW Code of Ethics and issues faced in professional practice
• Develop perspectives and skills that will advance a critical, reflective and ethical approach to social work practice
• Start building a philosophical and conceptual framework as part of their journey towards mature practice and integrity
• Reflect on and generalise from their life and learning experiences
• Experiment with some applications of their learnings
• Prepare for practice, either in field education or employment Develop perspectives and skills that will advance an ethical approach to social work practice
• Build a philosophical and conceptual framework as part of their journey towards integrity
• Reflect on and generalise from their own life and learning experiences

1. Develop a framework for ethical decision making through the evaluation of a wide range of materials about moral and social work philosophy, social theory and ethics; with particular focus on assessing their applicability to a range of practice issues
2. Demonstrate a capacity to identify and critically explore dilemmas in a range of social work practice settings and to deliberate on these matters with their peers
3. Assess the values, principles, and competing interests influencing professional practice
4. Articulate a high level .of understanding of the AASW code of ethics