Case Study- Ethics in Social Work

A‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‍s a social worker, one may find themselves in the midst of a case that creates value tensions. How to mitigate these tensions and determine the most ‘ethical’ course of action can challenge even the most skilled worker. These cases may arise in direct care or indirect service. When the tension arises in the agency, the worker may determine to ignore or disregard a policy that would be contraindicated in order to protect the client from harm. In the case of indirect service, workers may find that they are violating a law or regulation to protest an injustice or achieve some greater good. Case Alvin B. is the executive director of the Refugee Resettlement Center. The agency provides a wide range of social services to individuals who immigrate to the U.S., including housing referrals, financial and job counseling, language tutoring, and concrete help with federal immigration officials. As a result of the agency’s work, it is not unusual for the staff to receive requests for services from people who are in the US illegally. For a number of years the center’s staff members have taken the position that they should not notify immigration officials of illegal immigrants. Staff members have argued that the agency’s mission is to assist immigrants regardless of their legal status in the U.S. At a recent staff meeting, however, Alvin B. suggested that staff revisit the issue. He told the staff that he is concerned about the agency’s policy, particularly if staffers have information that, in ‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‍their judgment, public officials ought to have (for instance, concerning the commission of a serious crime, or child abuse and neglect). Alvin B. asks the staff to debate this issue. It is a value conflict for Alvin and an ethical dilemma for the staff who believe, on the one hand, that all immigrants deserve their help, but they are concerned, as Alvin B. is, that the agency might be supporting those who are fugitives from the law Instructions As a social worker, you will be confronted with a broad range of clients that you will need to assist. At times, they may find themselves in the midst of a case that creates value tensions. How to mitigate these tensions and determine the most ‘ethical’ course of action can challenge even the most skilled worker. These cases may arise in direct care or indirect service. When the tension arises in the agency, the worker may determine to ignore or disregard a policy that would be contraindicated in order to protect the client from harm. In the case of indirect service, workers may find that they are violating a law or regulation to protest an injustice or achieve some greater good. For this assignment, you will be presented with a brief scenario related to a hypothetical situation Alvin B. Values Conflict (1).pdf dealing with an ethical dilemma. Please respond to the following prompts: As the social worker assigned this case, where would you begin? Based upon the readings and lectures, how might you handle this dilemma? Ensure to use the article as a ‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‍source/reference.

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