ethics and professionalism 1 washington state department of social & health services
TRANSCRIPT
Ethics and Professionalism
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Washington StateDepartment of Social
& Health Services
Child Welfare Social Work
Personal vs. Professional ValuesKnow your personal values/biasesKnow your role
Ethical ImperativesClear professional boundariesCompetenceIntegrityClient self-determinationConfidentiality
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Ethical Imperative: Professional Boundaries
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Public employees should not make decisions in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.• RCW 42.52.070, Special privileges• RCW 42.52.140, Gifts• RCW 42.52.150, Limitations on gifts• RCW 42.52.080, Employment after public
service
Ethical Conduct: Boundaries
Ethical Conduct: Boundaries
Use of State Position Conflict of Interest Receiving/exchanging
Money Gifts Food or drink Services
Providing lesser/greater services
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A state officer or employee may not use his or her state position to secure special privileges or to grant exemptions to benefit himself, herself, family members, or other persons.
Ethical Conduct: BoundariesUse of State Position
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Ethical Conduct: BoundariesConflict of Interest & Dual RelationshipsA conflict of interest occurs when you have a private interest that may benefit from your actions, or when a private interest could interfere with official duties
An interest need not be financial to create a conflict of interest
Most conflicts result from the exercise of discretionary authority
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Ethical Imperative: Competence
Ethical Conduct: CompetenceReasonable knowledge of primary
issues of concernReasonable knowledge of
treatment approaches & their efficacy
Cultural competenceWillingness to seek help and
guidance when needed
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Culturally Competent Practice:
One’s ability to work in a way that is effective given the normative expectations of a given community
A willingness to avoid assumptions and to be interested in cultural factors in the broadest sense
Is a continuing processBegins with self-awarenessRequires basic knowledge of
human diversity10
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Ethical Imperative: Integrity
Ethical Conduct: Integrity
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Employees in public service should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organizations that might influence them in the performance of their duties.
• RCW 42.52.020, Activities incompatible with public duties
• RCW 42.52.110, Compensation for official duties or nonperformance
• RCW 42.52.120, Compensation for outside activities
• RCW 42.52.130, Honoraria
Ethical Conduct: Integrity
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ObjectivityPublic employees must place the public’s interest before any private interest or outside obligation - choices need to made on the merits.
• RCW 42.52.020, Activities incompatible with public duties
• RCW 42.52.030, Financial interests in transactions
• RCW 42.52.040, Assisting in transactions
Ethical Conduct: Integrity
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StewardshipPublic employees have a duty to conserve public resources and funds against misuse and abuse.
• RCW 42.52.070, Special privileges • RCW 42.52.160, Use of persons, money, or
property for private gain • RCW 42.52.180, Use of public resources for
political campaigns• WAC 292-110-010• Admin Policy 15.15
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• Will my use of state resources result in added costs or any other disadvantage to the state?
• Am I using this resource in order to avoid personal expense?
• Am I confident that my use of state resources will not compromise the security or integrity of state information or software?
• Are state resources being used for purposes that could be embarrassing for my agency if reported publicly?
Ethical Conduct: IntegrityQuestions to Ask Yourself
The Green Zone
• Any Use that is Reasonably Related to Your Official Duties • Combined Fund Campaign
The Yellow Zone
• Personal Use OK Under Limited Circumstances
• Really de minimis exceptions
• There is little or no cost to the state;• There is no interference with the
performance of official duties;• The use is brief in duration and frequency;• The use does not distract from the conduct
of state business; and• The use does not disrupt other state
employees and does not obligate them to make a personal use of state resources.
The Red Zone
• Prohibited Uses
• Outside business interests • Commercial uses • Illegal or unprofessional activities• Political activities, including lobbying
DilemmaYou send emails to your friend’s home
computer from your state computer regarding personal plans for the weekend.
Is this appropriate stewardship of state resources?
Dilemma
You ran across an article in TIME magazine that you want to share with friends and make several copies using the office’s copier.
Is this appropriate stewardship of state resources?
Dilemma
You send an email to your senator opposing the confirmation of a nominee for federal office.
Is this appropriate stewardship of state resources?
Dilemma
Your supervisor approves the use of a state
computer to do course work for a class that
will enhance your skills.
Is this appropriate stewardship of state resources?
Dilemma
You send a brief email or make a brief, local call to check on your kids.
Is this appropriate stewardship of state resources?
Dilemma
You access the Internet during a lunch break to check on your stock portfolio and transfer assets to a different fund.
Is this appropriate stewardship of state resources?
Dilemma
A family moves in next door to you, and you would really like to have her babysit your children, but you’re wondering if she has CPS history. You decide to check for referral history in FamLink.
Is this appropriate stewardship of state resources?
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Ethical Imperative: Client Self-Determination
Ethical Conduct: Client Self-Determination
Know your roleIdentification of role at initial
contactFull and complete identification of
concernsDocumentation that is accurate and
fairly reflects what occurredInform clients of possible impacts of
their choicesUse motivational interviewing to
enhance motivation for change 27
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Ethical Imperative: Confidentiality
Ethical Conduct: ConfidentialityKeep information confidential
◦Except in Duty to Warn situation◦Mandatory reporting requirements
Inform clients of the limits of confidentiality
Inform all of documentation requirements
Follow special protocols for protected information◦HIV◦Certain pieces of info when DV is
occurring29
What you find is that the tough ethical choices are not between good and evil, but rather between two goods:
Truth versus Loyalty
Individual versus Community
Short-term versus Long-term
Justice versus Mercy
Conclusion: Ethical Choices