Values and Ethical Practice - Level 7
Students should demonstrate an awareness of social work values and ethical practice.
Students will be expected to demonstrate a readiness to reflect on their own values and experiences and consider the impact these may have on their assessment and intervention generally. Specific to child care and protection they will be expected to start to consider the relevance of their own attachment experiences/experience of parenting to their future practice. For example, students should be asked to reflect on their own experience and views of discipline and how these may influence their practice in the context of current legal frameworks.
As a foundation for ethical practice students require taught input on social work values. The 21st Century Review Report 'Changing Lives' states that "Social work is based on respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all people and the rights that flow from this..." (2006). Students should be expected to read this and other key documents and to consider how they apply to children, young people, parents and carers.
Students should be introduced to the concept of antidiscriminatory/ anti-oppressive practice and this should include child care and protection case scenarios.
Most HEIs have developed links with service users and carers and they should have some input to the student's early learning opportunities. We recommend that one of the areas explored highlights how service users have experienced social work intervention. As it may be difficult for children and parents currently involved in the child protection system to speak about their experiences, HEIs may need to employ other resources (video, DVD, audio tape) to ensure that this group is represented.