Ethics and Professionalism

Ethics and Professionalism

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Washington StateDepartment of Social

& Health Services

Child Welfare Social WorkPersonal vs. Professional ValuesKnow your personal values/biasesKnow your role

Ethical ImperativesClear professional boundariesCompetenceIntegrityClient self-determinationConfidentiality

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Ethical Imperative: Professional Boundaries

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Public employees should not make decisions in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.• RCW 42.52.070, Special privileges• RCW 42.52.140, Gifts• RCW 42.52.150, Limitations on gifts• RCW 42.52.080, Employment after public

service

Ethical Conduct: Boundaries

Ethical Conduct: Boundaries

Use of State Position Conflict of Interest Receiving/exchanging

Money Gifts Food or drink Services

Providing lesser/greater services

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A state officer or employee may not use his or her state position to secure special privileges or to grant exemptions to benefit himself, herself, family members, or other persons.

Ethical Conduct: BoundariesUse of State Position

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Ethical Conduct: BoundariesConflict of Interest & Dual RelationshipsA conflict of interest occurs when you have a private interest that may benefit from your actions, or when a private interest could interfere with official duties

An interest need not be financial to create a conflict of interest

Most conflicts result from the exercise of discretionary authority

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Ethical Imperative: Competence

Ethical Conduct: CompetenceReasonable knowledge of primary

issues of concernReasonable knowledge of

treatment approaches & their efficacy

Cultural competenceWillingness to seek help and

guidance when needed

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Culturally Competent Practice:

One’s ability to work in a way that is effective given the normative expectations of a given community

A willingness to avoid assumptions and to be interested in cultural factors in the broadest sense

Is a continuing processBegins with self-awarenessRequires basic knowledge of

human diversity10

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Ethical Imperative: Integrity

Ethical Conduct: Integrity

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Employees in public service should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organizations that might influence them in the performance of their duties.

• RCW 42.52.020, Activities incompatible with public duties

• RCW 42.52.110, Compensation for official duties or nonperformance

• RCW 42.52.120, Compensation for outside activities

• RCW 42.52.130, Honoraria


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ObjectivityPublic employees must place the public’s interest before any private interest or outside obligation - choices need to made on the merits.

• RCW 42.52.020, Activities incompatible with public duties

• RCW 42.52.030, Financial interests in transactions

• RCW 42.52.040, Assisting in transactions


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StewardshipPublic employees have a duty to conserve public resources and funds against misuse and abuse.

• RCW 42.52.070, Special privileges • RCW 42.52.160, Use of persons, money, or

property for private gain • RCW 42.52.180, Use of public resources for

political campaigns• WAC 292-110-010• Admin Policy 15.15

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• Will my use of state resources result in added costs or any other disadvantage to the state?

• Am I using this resource in order to avoid personal expense?

• Am I confident that my use of state resources will not compromise the security or integrity of state information or software?

• Are state resources being used for purposes that could be embarrassing for my agency if reported publicly?

Ethical Conduct: IntegrityQuestions to Ask Yourself

The Green Zone• Any Use that is Reasonably Related to Your Official Duties • Combined Fund Campaign

The Yellow Zone

• Personal Use OK Under Limited Circumstances

• Really de minimis exceptions

• There is little or no cost to the state;• There is no interference with the

performance of official duties;• The use is brief in duration and frequency;• The use does not distract from the conduct

of state business; and• The use does not disrupt other state

employees and does not obligate them to make a personal use of state resources.

The Red Zone• Prohibited Uses

• Outside business interests • Commercial uses • Illegal or unprofessional activities• Political activities, including lobbying

DilemmaYou send emails to your friend’s home

computer from your state computer regarding personal plans for the weekend.

Is this appropriate stewardship of state resources?

Dilemma You ran across an article in TIME magazine

that you want to share with friends and make several copies using the office’s copier.


DilemmaYou send an email to your senator

opposing the confirmation of a nominee for federal office.


DilemmaYour supervisor approves the use of a

statecomputer to do course work for a class

thatwill enhance your skills.


Dilemma

You send a brief email or make a brief, local call to check on your kids.


DilemmaYou access the Internet during a lunch

break to check on your stock portfolio and transfer assets to a different fund.


DilemmaA family moves in next door to you, and

you would really like to have her babysit your children, but you’re wondering if she has CPS history. You decide to check for referral history in FamLink.


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Ethical Imperative: Client Self-Determination

Ethical Conduct: Client Self-Determination

Know your roleIdentification of role at initial contactFull and complete identification of

concernsDocumentation that is accurate and

fairly reflects what occurredInform clients of possible impacts of

their choicesUse motivational interviewing to

enhance motivation for change27

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Ethical Imperative: Confidentiality

Ethical Conduct: ConfidentialityKeep information confidential

◦Except in Duty to Warn situation◦Mandatory reporting requirements

Inform clients of the limits of confidentiality

Inform all of documentation requirements

Follow special protocols for protected information◦HIV◦Certain pieces of info when DV is occurring

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What you find is that the tough ethical choices are not between good and evil, but rather between two goods: Truth versus Loyalty Individual versus Community Short-term versus Long-term Justice versus Mercy

Conclusion: Ethical Choices

Ethics and Professionalism

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