SOAD4008 Ethical Issues and Critical Reflexivity

Associate Professor Helen McLaren

2017

4.5

1 x 2-hour workshop weekly

1 SOAD3102 - Field Education 1
1a SOAD3100B - Field Education 1: Part 2
1b SOAD3102A - Field Education 1
Must Satisfy: ((1 or 1a or 1b))

SOAD7015 has been successfully completed

This topic analyses the links between moral philosophy and social work practice, focussing particularly on descriptive ethics and normative ethics (which examines and applies the Australian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics). The topic explores decision-making in environments fraught with ethical complexity. The topic covers the underpinning practice; and examines the choices available to practitioners and the assumptions underlying professional choice.

The aims of Advanced Practice are:

to examine moral principles and reasoning underpinning practice decisions;
to understand the impact of the law and legislative requirements on practice, that is what social workers are legally required to do and what they are prohibited from doing;
to determine resources available at our disposal to resolve problems; and
to reflect on the extent to which personal beliefs and values influence or constrain practice decisions.

In considering these aims, professional responsibilities will be considered. These include:

the social worker's responsibility to the profession and to the society;
the social worker's responsibility to clients;
the social worker's responsibility to self, others and the agency;
ethical problem solving and the code of ethics

At the end of this topic students will be able to:

demonstrate a capacity to conceptualise dilemmas in all forms of social work practice;
obtain facts and information, and assess the values, principles, and competing influences in practice problems;
propose and justify solutions to practice problems;
make explicit and assess one's basic assumptions and values; and
anticipate and defend objections to proposed solutions.

Key dates and timetable

Timetable details for 2017 are no longer published.

This information is from current details held on the Student Information System. Please report any errors or omissions to the relevant College Office.