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Ethics: Doing the Right Thing When No One is Looking

Explore the importance of ethics in protecting clients, making ethical decisions, and safeguarding yourself and your agency. Address ethical dilemmas and learn how to navigate them effectively.

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Ethics: Doing the Right Thing When No One is Looking

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  1. Ethics: Doing the Right Thing When No One is Looking Rodney B. Crownover, LMSW MidSOUTH Training Academy

  2. What’s In It For You? Why study ethics?

  3. Reasons to Examine Ethics • To protect our clients. • To improve our ability to make ethical decisions. • To protect ourselves and our agencies from liability.

  4. What’s In It For You? • What specific ethical questions do you want to address today?

  5. Susan Susan has been working at the Too Many Kids Agency for 3 months. She loves children and makes extra efforts to ensure her clients receive all the services to which they are entitled. Her workload is increasing rapidly as her supervisor recognizes that she is a hardworking, competent caseworker. Several of the “experienced” workers have the attitude that they will do just what is needed in order to get paid. Many of her coworkers do not seem to be concerned about their clients. Susan has found out that at least 2 of her coworkers are documenting visits which have not occurred. A couple of the workers are encouraging Susan to “slow down” and “not take it so seriously” so that she doesn’t burn out too soon. She is beginning to question herself and is becoming unhappy with her job. What should she do?

  6. Your Thoughts on Ethics • What does the term ethics mean to you? Where do ethics come from? • What role do values have in the consideration of ethics? • Do you have a plan or system in place for addressing ethical dilemmas? • Do you think it is acceptable to break a rule or regulation you find unfair, unwise, unnecessary or wrong?

  7. Question of the Day • What barriers exist for you in your efforts to maintain ethical behavior or practice?

  8. Ethics •  The discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation.* • A set of moral principles or values. * •  The principles of conduct governing an individual or group.*     * Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition, 1996.

  9. Ethical Core Areas • Ethical Dilemmas • Ethical Decision Making • Ethics Risk Management

  10. Code of Ethics • A written set of guidelines issued by an organization to its workers and management to help them conduct their actions in accordance with its primary values and ethical standards. http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/code-of-ethics.html

  11. Code of Ethics A code of ethics document may outline the mission and values of the business or organization, how professionals are supposed to approach problems, the ethical principles based on the organization's core values and the standards to which the professional is held. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/code-of-ethics.asp

  12. A Modern Hippocratic Oath • I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant: • I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow. • I will apply, for the benefit of the sick… • Louis Lasagna, 1964

  13. Boy Scout Oath • “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law…”

  14. Official Creed • Elvis Presley Impersonators International Association • I have an obligation to all associations, groups, and businesses who purchase my entertainment services to provide those services in a professional and ethical manner. • I have an obligation as an Elvis performer, through my personal, business, and social contacts to be conscious of my image and what I represent and to conduct myself accordingly. • I will provide leadership and direction in continuing the music and style of Elvis, while lending strength and direction to the growth of activity as a great world-class entertainment medium.

  15. Ethical Dilemma • An issue that is especially complex because every option, including taking no action, will result in some degree of harm or wrongdoing. One is forced to make a choice between or among conflicting or opposing ethical duties or obligations.

  16. Steps for Ethical Problem Solving • Step 1: Determine the ethical dilemma. • Step 2: Identify the key values involved. • Step 3: Rank the ethical principles. • Step 4: Develop a plan of action. • Step 5: Implement your plan. • Step 6: Reflect on the outcome.

  17. Step 1 • Determine whether there is an ethical issue or dilemma. • Is there a conflict of values or professional responsibilities?

  18. Step 2 • Identify key values and principles involved. • Recognize what is ethically “at stake.”

  19. Step 3 • Rank the ethical principles which are most relevant to the issue or dilemma. • Prioritize the values or principles and potential outcomes according to perceived degree of harm/benefit.

  20. Step 4 • Develop an action plan that is consistent with the ethical priorities which are central to the ethical dilemma. • Can you support your plan with the ethical principles you have identified? • Would you want your choice published? • What would your colleagues say about your choice?

  21. Step 5 • Implement your plan. • The avoidance of any situation that could cause serious harm to the client or others should be the top priority.

  22. Step 6 • Reflect on the outcomes. • What were the outcomes for all involved, i.e., client, professional, agency?

  23. ETHIC Model • Examine relevant values • Think about ethical standards from your code of ethics • Hypothesize about possible actions • Identify potential beneficiaries and potentially injured • Consult with supervisors and colleagues Congress, E. 1999. Social Work Values and Ethics: Identifying and Resolving Professional Dilemmas. Chicago, IL: Pine Forge Press.

  24. Ask Yourself • What barriers exist for me in my efforts to maintain ethical behavior or practice?

  25. Avoiding Ethical Dilemmas • Obey the law but don’t hide behind it. • Do the right thing when there is such a thing. • Listen to your conscience, although you cannot always trust it.

  26. (Continued) • Talk it out with others but choose your others carefully. • Prepare to be punished for honesty. • Stay out of ethical debt.

  27. (Continued) • Sweat the small stuff. • React to smells. • Be a cheerleader for ethical champions.

  28. (Continued) • Permit mistakes so you do not promote cover-ups. • Mind more than your own business. • Learn to live with shades of gray.

  29. (Continued) • Bear the blame for your behavior. • Let pride be your guide. • Do not say what you believe about ethics. Show what you believe.

  30. Last but certainly not least! • Be where the buck stops. • EthIcal

  31. 3 Things to Remember • We study ethics to ____________ our ___________. • Be a cheerleader for ethical _________. • Have a structured problem solving method when dealing with ethical issues. Give an example.

  32. Contact Information • rbcrownover@midsouth.ualr.edu Training Director, MidSOUTH Training Academy 415 N. McKinley, Suite 900 Little Rock, AR. 72205 501 - 296 - 1920

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