For many years, the purpose of the social work community has been “to enhance human well-being 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” (Code of Ethics). I joined this community because the mission statement of this community really resonated with me. I wanted to join a career that allowed me to help others and that surrounded me with others who were also passionate about helping others. The Code of Ethics is a written artifact that outlines our community’s mission, values, and rules. The purpose of this document is to provide common rules and ways of thinking for all social workers to uphold ethical standards and protect the rights of our clients. If a social worker does not uphold the standards from the Code of Ethics then they can lose their license.
The Code of Ethics used by social workers is integral in the establishment of rules in this community. The Code of Ethics contains a section called “Ethical Standards” that establishes the ethical standards that all social workers must abide by. For example, the following excerpt from the Code of Ethics shows one established standard that all social workers must follow.
1.01 Commitment to Clients
Social workers’ primary responsibility is to promote the well-being of clients. In general, clients’ interests are primary. However, social workers’ responsibility to the larger society or specific legal obligations may on limited occasions supersede the loyalty owed clients, and clients should be so advised. (Examples include when a social worker is required by law to report that a client has abused a child or has threatened to harm self or others.)
The Code of Ethics used by social workers is integral in the establishment of rules in this community. The Code of Ethics contains a section called “Ethical Standards” that establishes the ethical standards that all social workers must abide by. For example, the following excerpt from the Code of Ethics shows one established standard that all social workers must follow.
1.01 Commitment to Clients
Social workers’ primary responsibility is to promote the well-being of clients. In general, clients’ interests are primary. However, social workers’ responsibility to the larger society or specific legal obligations may on limited occasions supersede the loyalty owed clients, and clients should be so advised. (Examples include when a social worker is required by law to report that a client has abused a child or has threatened to harm self or others.)
What is shown in this excerpt is a clearly written rule that social workers must follow. Social workers must respect the privacy of all clients unless they are a danger to themselves or others and all clients have a right to know this. This is an established rule that is made public through the publication of the Code of Ethics.
The Code of Ethics used by social workers is integral in the establishment of the rhetoric used in this discourse community. For example, the Code of Ethics provides definitions of terms that are used frequently by social workers. The next example can be found in the “Ethical Principles” section of the Code of Ethics.
Value: Service
Ethical Principle: Social workers’ primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems.
Social workers elevate service to others above self-interest. 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).
This excerpt is a good example of how the Code of Ethics defines certain terms in regards to the social work community. As shown above, the term “service” as defined by the social work community means that social workers should help people and try to volunteer when they can.
This discourse community is often “at odds” with the general public. Members of the social work community know that there are many different kinds of social work, and each one does something completely different from the next. However, members of the general public who are unfamiliar with the social work community may sometimes refer to social workers as “baby snatchers” due to their lack of understanding of the way that this community works. Members of this community are often also at odds with the general public due to the nature of their jobs. Social workers may play an integral role in helping impoverished families apply for different kinds of welfare. There has been recently been a long debate between citizens in the United States over the use of welfare. Those people who believe that welfare is given out too often or costs too much may be at odds with social workers because they do not approve of their use of welfare.
English 2089 