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Discuss the importance of culture in social work
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Standards in Social Work Practice: Standards for cultural competence were implemented by the NASW to address the need for definition, support, and encouragement for the development of a high level of social work practice. Those guidelines include knowledge on how to respond in a sensitive, skillful, and respectful manner (NASW, 2001). It is important for social workers to be properly and professionally educated on how to handle challenges they face with diverse populations. The NASW provides guidelines that promote respect and appreciation for acculturation, biculturalism along with other primordial values. The intention of these standards or guidelines is to provide insight on objectives and goals within the social work practice, not only
Working with people can be challenging, but so rewarding all at the same time. As humans, we are certainly not perfect and we are making mistakes daily. Making decisions is one thing that does not come easily to us, and depending on the day you can get multiple different answers to one situation. The NASW Code of Ethics is an extremely helpful tool when we are working with clients and something that does not ever waiver in ethical decision-making. If we are working in the Social work profession, then we must insure we are making the correct decision for everyone who is involved with the client.
If a client was threatening to sue myself and the agency, I would simply provide him with a photocopy of his clinical record. He is the client and has the right to see and be aware of his progress or maybe not progress. There is not a reason that the client should not be able to see their records and just like the book says, social workers should write their notes in anticipation that either the client, a third party or both will be viewing the notes. In addition, standard 1.08 of the NASW code of ethics says that social worker should be able to provide their client with their records. If there is information in their file the social worker thinks might be harmful, he or she is to go over that information with the client to process and discuss the meaning and reasoning behind why that was said. In regards to having access to records, I do not see this affecting my faith as
According to NASW (2010), values are descried as the mission of the social worker in which this includes service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. An essential value that is applicable to my practice setting is the service value. This value is define as the social workers’ priority to help people and addressing social problems in the environments As an intern, it has been a priority to provide services to our client depending on their specific needs. There has been times that client have needed transportation in order for them to attend monthly events, clothes’ donations, and mentoring services. Another importance value that
does not impact staff members, veterans or their families. Veterans enrolled in the VA health care system don’t need to take additional steps to meet the health care law coverage standards; therefore VA social workers are in the clear. In addition, the health care law does not change VA health benefits or veteran’s out-of-pocket costs (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2014).
Springer, J. F, Sale, E, Kasim, R, Winter, W, Sambrano, Soldad, C, (2004). Sandra; Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work: Innovation in Theory, Research & Practice; Vol 13(3); 1-23. Doi: 10.1300/J051v13n03_01
As a social worker, the ability to merge cultural competencies with social work methods and theories allows intervention to be customized to meet their client’s need-based which vary upon culture. Since there are a massive amount of different cultures with different traditions, values, and beliefs the social worker needs to obtain the fundamentals of the culture in order to assess and advocate for the ethnic group effectively. The NASW of Ethics clearly values the competence and the Ethical Principle of Social workers practice within the areas of competence and enhances their professional expertise. In addition, “ Cultural competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system or agency or among professionals and enable the system, agency, or professionals to work effectively in cross-cultural situations” (NASW, 2000b, p. 61). Cultural competency ensures that our primary mission of the social work profession to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.
Successful practice with immigrants is guided by concepts and theories that enhance perception of their presenting concerns, and provide a basis for precise assessment that lead to relevant interventions to enhance their functioning and expand their resources (Congress & Chang-Muy, 2009). The social worker in Claudia Case is aware of the social issues the family faces such as difficulty speaking and learning English initiating to Claudia’s mother Paula that she would translate vital information to Spanish to ensure Paula needs are met. Immediately that made Paula feel comfortable. Social workers should have a knowledge base of their clients’ cultures and be able to demonstrate competence in the provision of services that are sensitive to clients’ cultures and to differences among people and cultural groups (NASW code of Ethics,
Core competency one consists of identifying with the social work profession. This core competency relates to the time in my internship. The following paragraphs will connect the practice behaviors associated with the core competency to the artifacts that I have chosen where I demonstrated the mastery of each practice behavior. The first practice behavior is continually employ and model conscious use of self, self-reflection, self-monitoring, and self-correction in practice situations, which was demonstrated through my receiving feedback journal. The second artifact is a narrative on my first learning contract from my intern supervision, which will highlight my ability to adhere and model professional roles and boundaries. The last practice
Culture can be defined as behaviors exhibited by certain racial, religious, social or ethnic groups. Some factors in which culture may vary include: family structure, education, and socioeconomic status (Kodjo, 2009). Some may think cultural competence is something that has an end point, however, when the big picture is seen, it is a learning process and journey. From the writer’s perspective, the client-therapist relationship can be challenging. Culturally competent therapists must realize that behaviors are shaped by an individual’s culture. Many changes are taking place within the United States cultural makeup. Therapists and healthcare professionals are being challenged to provide effective and sensitive care for patients and their families. This type of culturally sensitive care requires the professional to be open and seek understanding in the patients diverse belief systems (Kodjo, 2009).
A social worker must present themselves as a learner and understand clients from all experts of their own experiences. To show your respect to the clients as a social worker you must be able to show that you understand complexity of cultural identity. Cultural competence targets social workers knowledge of development, focusing on culturally specific demographics, characteristics, values, and intravenous technique. When dealing with cultural sensitivity a worker’s genuine appreciation of the client’s uniqueness and universalistic respect for the client’s humanness is needed. To have success in multicultural practice, cultural responsiveness come in to play, which means to be culturally responsive, social workers use dialogue skills that place the client’s construction of reality at the center of the
Among an array of Values from The Code of Ethics (TCE) of social work Value 1 dictates that as social workers we must respect the dignity of our clients and refrain from passing judgement onto them (Canadian Association of Social Work, 2005, pg.7). As a social worker, it is important to follow this value as it prevents the distancing of the client from the worker as the client will have a better chance of opening up to someone who does not instantly tell them what to do or reprimand them for their actions or non-action in their lives. Oppression relates to the TCE in that it says the social work profession’s main purpose is to raise their clients who are vulnerable, oppressed and/or living in poverty (CASW, 2005, pg.7). Taking this into account
In social work, a social worker has to come to the client’s level and start from there. The client does not have to come to the social workers level. In order for this to happen the social worker has to know the importance of culture, race, gender, sexual, diversity and other forms of diversity to make the best decision for choosing a type of intervention. Understanding the client’s culture, race, gender, sexual diversity and other form of diversity is important because they affect each person differently. An example, Roberto is Latino and in their culture they believe in machomism, so this is something his social worker needs to know when addressing Roberto or someone of the Latino culture. Hispanic women bring machomism
It is imperative that social workers become knowledgeable about their clients’ cultures and are culturally sensitive. In learning about their clients’ cultures, social workers need to be aware of how powerful and significant culture is in relating to clients’ behavior, values, and beliefs. Becoming culturally competent requires the ability to integrate awareness, knowledge, and skills while maintaining a positive working relationship with the client (Sue and Zane, 1987). Today, the concerns regarding cultural competency continue to accentuate the importance of preparing social workers for a diversified society.
All social workers are beholden to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. Professional ethics are the main core of social work. The profession has an obligation to articulate its basic values, ethical principles, and ethical standards. The code is composed of thematic sections that outline a social worker’s responsibility to clients, colleagues, employers, and the profession. Some responsibilities that a social worker has to a client are that the clients are their primary responsibility, fostering maximum self-determination in clients, respecting the privacy of clients, keeping information that has been shared during the course of their duties confidential and charging fees for services that are fair and considerate
Social Workers shall develop an understanding of their own personal and cultural values and beliefs as a first step in appreciating the importance of multicultural identities in the lives of people…Cultural competence includes knowing and acknowledging how fears, ignorance, and the “isms” (racism, sexism, ethnocentrism, heterosexism, ageism, classism) have influenced their attitudes, beliefs, and feelings. (citation)