Ethical Issues, Consent, and Professionalism in Helping

Ethics

Varkey (2021) defined ethics as “a broad term that covers the study of the nature of morals and the specific moral choices to be made” (Ethics, Morality, and Professional Standards section, para. 1). Banks et al. (2022) further explained that ethics is the study of rights, obligations, harms, rewards, human and ecological well-being, and the kind of people we ought to be and develop into (p. 5). Varkey (2021) added that ethics encompass the following four basic values: beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice. Beneficence involves helpers who act for their client’s well-being, whereas nonmaleficence involves the avoidance of harm. Autonomy means that all individuals have inherent value and have the right be informed of and partake in all decisions that impact them. Autonomy should be weighed against ethical standards, and can be set aside in situations where harm is involved. It does not apply to individuals who are not capable of making decisions, such as infants (p. 7).

Community Tool Box (2023) offered another perspective on ethics. Ethical behaviour is categorized into the following four groups: program effectiveness, standing in the community, moral credibility, and leadership; it added professional and legal issues. To be more specific to the job of CSWs, the ability to apply ethical principles and ensure that the services they provide are effective and fair enhances trust among the people whom they support. Through the application of moral principles, the CSW also improves the relationships among clients, leaders, and support workers, because they provide services according to high legal and moral standards. Most agencies will follow a code of ethics to govern decision making. Familiarize yourself with the code of ethics and cultural protocols in any agency where you work.

According to Pearce (2024, chapter 3.3), the fundamental values of human services are described as follows:

• • Respect the dignity and welfare of all people by honouring them and treating them with respect.
  • Promote self-determination by assisting individuals in achieving self-sufficiency through providing motivation and the freedom to make their own choices, as well as the ability to manage their lives effectively.
  • Honour cultural diversity by valuing the cultural differences among people, regardless of their origins.
  • Advocate for social justice by acting fairly and advocate for others to promote equity and lessen the harm caused by systemic barriers.
  • Act with integrity by conducting yourself with honesty, ethics, and professionalism to build strong relationships, ensure safety, and foster trust.
  • Be honest, truthful, and promote fairness while cultivating trust.
  • Apply genuineness by being authentic in your actions and behaviours to demonstrate your sincerity.
  • Approach situations with neutrality, avoid personal biases and judgments.

As a community support worker, understanding your ethics and values while reflecting on how to implement those ethics and values in your role with clients is important.

Professionalism

Professionalism is essential in the role of a CSW. According to Collier (2012), professionalism entails adhering to a particular stance according to ethical codes, policies, and legal statements that are rooted in professional ethical principles. Whether employees are supervised or not, they must adhere to professional standards. People who have high standards of professionalism perform well in both public and private service. Professionalism is therefore the means of performing successfully in a career. The Canadian Association of Social Workers’ (2024) code of ethics, values, and guiding principles included the following seven professional core values for social workers:

1. 1. Respect the dignity and worth of all people
   2. Promote social justice
   3. Pursue truth and reconciliation
   4. Value human relationships
   5. Preserve integrity in professional practice
   6. Maintain privacy and confidentiality
   7. Provide competent professional services (Professional Values section, para. 1)

Social workers also engage with vulnerable and marginalized individuals and community groups, leading the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) to establish values that influence their decisions and actions. Although CSWs are a different profession than social workers, both work with marginalized and vulnerable populations, and should adhere to these professional values and ethics. Instructors can prompt their CSW students to consider how the CASW’s code of ethics for social workers relates to their own work.

These professional core values demonstrate that ensuring respect for clients is as important as basing services on social justice. Social justice, which pertains to human rights, seeks to improve the lives of groups that have been historically marginalized. Social justice has deep philosophical roots that have caused the definition to shift over time, but the core idea as defined by Soken-Huberty is that “Social justice examines the fairness of a society’s wealth distribution, as well as the distribution of privileges and opportunities. Discrimination based on traits like race or gender goes against the principles of social justice, which include human rights, access, participation, and equity” (n.d., para. 2). The Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action can be seen as a systemic approach to social justice. Article 57 is of note in professional development, as it refers to the responsibility of the federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide

education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism (Call to Action #57, Government of Canada, 2024).

As a CSW, it is important to learn about the history of colonization, residential schools, and the resulting intergenerational trauma that impacts many clients.

Building valued relationships not only helps clients and caregivers to feel comfortable with each other, but it also strengthens their professional relationships. Basing services on integrity and professional practice while maintaining clients’ right to privacy and the protection of their confidentiality is deeply important. Following these will enhance clients’ confidence in the services, ensures the safety of the clients, and leads to the success of the service. Competency not only helps to determine the appropriate course of action and strategies, but also increases the chances of the client’s success.

References

Banks, S., Shevellar, L., & Narayanan, P. (2022). Ethical issues in community development: Setting the scene. Community Development Journal, 58(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsac043

Canadian Association of Social Workers. (2024). Newly revised code of ethics, values, and guiding principles 2024. https://www.casw-acts.ca/en/casw-code-ethics-2024

Collier, R. (2012). Professionalism: What is it? Canadian Medical Association Journal, 184(10), 1129–1130. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.109-4211

Community Tool Box. (2023). Chapter 19; Section 5: Ethical issues in community interventions. University of Kansas, Center for Community Health, and Development. https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/analyze/choose-and-adapt-community-interventions/ethical-issues/main

Government of Canada. (2024, June 17). Professional development and training for public servants. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1524504124015/1557514077713

Pearce, E. B. (2024). Introduction to human services 2e. Open Oregon Educational Resources. https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/introhumanservices2e/

Soken-Huberty, E. (n.d.). Social justice 101: Meaning, principles, facts and examples. Human Rights Careers. https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/social-justice-101-meaning-principles-facts-and-examples/

Varkey, B. (2021). Principles of clinical ethics and their application to practice. Medical Principles and Practice, 30(1), 17–28. https://doi.org/10.1159/000509119