665 Leadership and Supervision: Assignment 1
Ethics and Values in Social Work: An Integrated Approach for a Comprehensive Curriculum 2nd Edition, by Allan Edward Barsky (Author)
(Read Part 1 and Chapters 1-3) Kindle Cloud Reader (amazon.com)
Complete the following assignments from the Barsky textbook. Please be sure to complete only
the questions and sections outlined in the directions. Your answers to the questions should be in
sentence/paragraph format. You do not need to type out the question within your homework
assignment, but the submission needs to demonstrate your comprehensive understanding of the
question and scenario. You can use the 1-5 numbering below to identify which component of the
assignment you are answering. If the question has subsections (i.e. a, b, c, etc.), make sure to
identify those individually and answer/discuss those individually.
Resources are required as you are using knowledge from sources (at least the textbook and
possibly others). Give proper credit to your sources and use APA formatting. Direct quotes are
not allowed in assignments. Your responses should go beyond paraphrasing the textbook. You
will be graded on appropriate grammar, APA formatting, and how clearly and correctly you
answered each component of the question. Your answers must reflect a critical analysis of the
scenario/question and content and be supported by logical and accurate evidence.
When you reference any NASW Code of Ethics, be very specific. Many of the codes have
several subsections. For example, 1.07 Privacy and Confidentiality has 23 different
subsections. Each one of them addresses a different aspect of 1.07. When you are identifying
the applicable code, ensure that you identify the specific subsection that applies. When you
use the code, cite the Code. Make sure you thoroughly read each section.
This assignment is worth a total of 15 points. See individual questions for the point
breakdown. Most questions can be answered within 1-2 well developed paragraphs. Read the
question carefully and ensure you answer all components. It is essential when you answer the
questions that you provide justification/evidence to support your claim.
**Be mindful this is an advanced level graduate course. Your intellectual depth and critical analysis
should be evident in your responses**
1. On page 12 of the Barsky textbook, complete #3. 1.4 This question is worth 5 points.
Applying – Issue, dilemma, and breach: Review case 3 at the top of this chapter.
Identify whether this case involves an ethical issue, an ethical dilemma, and/or an ethical
breach (1 point). Explain why you believe this case involves an issue, dilemma and/or
breach (i.e. link your conclusion with the definitions of issue, dilemma and breach
presented in this chapter) (4 points).
Case 3: Stacey works for child protective services. During a child neglect investigation,
she discovers that the parents leave Chauncey (their 8 year old child) unattended after
school because both need to work in order to pay the bills. They have recently
immigrated to the US, so they have no family or friends to help with child care. They
have taken precautions to ensure that Chauncey is safe, but the lay saws that 8 year olds
cannot be left unattended. Stacey believes Chauncey is better off with the parent’s plan
rather than being placed in foster care. How should Stacey reconcile her legal, clinical,
and ethical obligations toward the child and family?
2. On page 31 of the Barsky textbook, complete #7a, b and c. (do not just list the value, but
also provide evidence/argument to support your selection).
Core Social Work Values: For each of the selected scenarios (a, b, and c) identify which
social work core values are reflected by the social worker’s actions: 1) service, 2) social
justice, 3) dignity and worth ofa person, 4) importance of human relationships, 5)
integrity, 6) competence, 7) human rights, 8) scientific, 9) none of the above. IF more
than one value applies, explain. Again, do not just list the value, but provide specific
evidence/justification for your selection. 1.4
This question is worth 4.5 points: The student will receive .5 point for the
value and 1 point for providing specific evidence/justification of each.
a. Cloris asks her social worker if she can see what the worker wrote in her
case records. Initially, the worker thought about removing a certain page
because some notes on that page were not very flattering. The worker
ultimately decided to show the whole case file because she did not want to
deceive the client.
b. Charlie asks his social worker to help him apply for Medicaid so he can access
treatment that he could not otherwise afford. The worker personally believes that
people should pay their own medical bills. Still, the worker follows her professional
duty and helps Charlie with his request.
c. Shainy wants to know whether her work is being effective. She decides to document
her interventions and outcomes in order to evaluate them, incorporating what she has
learned in her research class.
3. On page 31-32 of the Barsky textbook, complete #9d.
Emotional Reactions: For the identified scenario (c), describe how you might feel. How
might your emotional reactions either help or hinder your ability to assess the client’s
values and motivations? 1.5 and 2.2
This question is worth 2 points: 1 point for describing how you might feel and 1 point in
how this emotional reactions could help our hinder your ability.
d. You are working with a 10 year old client who discloses that his father calls him “a
little sissy” because he likes to play with dolls.
4. On page 75 of the Barsky textbook, complete #3a.
Assessing the attitudinal factors: Identify your attitudes in relation to the following
issues. Assess the strength of your attitudes in relation to extremity, certainty and
centrality. 1.5
This question is worth 1.5 points: You will receive .5 point for identifying your attitudes
and 1 point for assessment the strength of your attitude.
a. Should the Veterans Administration (and government funds) be used to apy for
transgender veterans to have gender-affirming surgery?
5. On page 75 of the Barsky textbook, complete #4b.
Moral-ethical conflicts. For each case, identify the conflicts between the social worker’s
moral convictions and ethical obligations. NOTE: Be specific about which code (and
subsection) that applies to the ethical obligation.1.4
This question is worth 2 points: 1 point for identifying the conflict between moral and
ethical obligations and 1 point for identifying the correct applicable code.
b. Sacha worked as a journalist before she became a social worker. She still writes
articles for a human interest magazine. She finds that she gets good story material
from the clients she works with. Her colleague says she is breaching client
confidentiality since she does not ask the clients for permission to tell their stories.
Sacha thinks that people living in a democratic society have a right to know what is
going on their communities.
Reading& Listening/Assignment Resources:
• Ethics and Values in Social Work: An Integrated Approach for a Comprehensive Curriculum 2nd Edition, by Allan Edward Barsky (Author)
– (Read Part 1 and Chapters 1-3)
• “Educating the Virtuous Social Worker: Ethics Beyond Duties, Principles, Standards, and Consequences” (campbellsville.edu)
• NASW Code of Ethics (2021)
https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
• Listening Assignment: Social Work Podcast: 2018 NASW Code of Ethics (Part 1) (27 minutes). In Part 1 we provide a historical overview of the NASW Code of Ethics and discusses why the NASW Code of Ethics was revised for 2018. Then, Allan and I talk about Section 1.03, Informed Consent, and specifically subsection “i” which has to do with electronic searches.
https://socialworkpodcast.blogspot.com/2018/01/Ethics2018-1.html
Internet Resources
• Ethics Alive! The 2017 NASW Code of Ethics: What’s New? https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/ethics-articles/the-2017-nasw-code-of-ethics-whats-new/
• Ethics Alive! Religious Freedom and Social Work: Ethics of Referring Clients https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/ethics-articles/ethics-alive-religious-freedom-and-social-work-ethics-of-referring-clients/
• Ethics Alive! Ethics of Paradoxical Intervention in Social Work https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/ethics-articles/ethics-alive-ethics-of-paradoxical-intervention-in-social-work/
• Ethics Alive! Cultural Competence, Awareness, Sensitivity, Humility and Responsiveness: What’s the Difference? https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/ethics-articles/ethics-alive-cultural-competence-awareness-sensitivity-humility-responsiveness/
Ethics Alive! Boundaries in a Small Community: Where Everybody Knows Your Name https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/ethics-articles/ethics-alive-boundaries-in-a-small-community-where-everybody-knows-your-name/
Extra Information To Know:
Module 1 Objectives and Introduction
Objectives:
Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
1.1 Engage with clients and colleagues conveying a strength-based demeanor and attitude.
1.2 Demonstrate professional and ethical social work conduct in all levels of practice
1.3 Demonstrate the ability to critically analyze cases and articulate how to manage ethical issues in practice scenarios.
1.4 Demonstrate the ability to apply social work ethics and values to the evaluation of social intervention.
1.5 Engage in self-reflection and self-care practices which may include reflective trauma responsive supervision to prevent and address secondary trauma in self and organization.
Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
2.2 Apply self-awareness to manage the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities and constituencies.
Introduction:
The content this week will provide an introduction to values and ethics, including definitions of key concepts. It will provide students with the opportunity to reflect and clarify their own values, as well as learn about the values of social work and other professions. It also explores the interplay between values, ethics and macro theories for social work.
