Ethical Values in Social Work Practice: A Qualitative Study

Course overview

This course is based upon material published in the Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics and is available as an open-access article. Abstract: This paper is the result of research carried out during 2012-2013 in the social work field to determine the structural framework of a welfare model centered on ethical values, based on Grounded Theory (GT) qualitative data analysis obtained through individual and group interviews with social workers in the North-Eastern region of Romania. The objective of this research was to identify the ethical values considered by social care professionals to be constitutive of the social work profession. We have attempted to generate a theoretical model of social work, centered on the ethical values that underpin the construction of ethical expertise in social services. We have identified a hierarchy of ethical values, which starts from the operational values demonstrated in the discourse of the respondents and in their professional practices and leads ultimately to a set of corresponding constitutive values. The analysis model is consistent with recent models of the development of expertise in social work, through implementing the supervision of ethics. This course on ethical values in social work practice is specifically designed for social workers. However, it may also be helpful for other behavioral health professionals, such as professional counselors, psychologists, and substance abuse counselors, who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to expand their knowledge of ethical practice. The course may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing education courses in ethics for license renewal. The course is based on a journal article that includes research. It contains statistical analysis and data that some clinicians enjoy reading and others do not. A significant benefit of reading research-based articles for continuing education is that they provide practitioners with the latest findings in their field. Authors: Frunza and Sandu Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding ethical values in social work practice. Specifically, a professional will: Identify the ethical values social work professionals consider to be constitutive of the social work profession. Describe the hierarchy of ethical values in social work. Identify the operational values demonstrated in the discourse of social worker respondents. Citation: Frunza, A. and Sandu, A. (2017). Ethical values in social work practice: A qualitative study. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 14(1)