The values that I live by today underpin what kind of person I am. My values include, treating people the way I would like to be treated. I believe that this is a very significant value and probably my main value. I believe that you should never hit a child no matter what the child has done. This probably comes from the negative experiences in my life, I have gone against what I seen as a child. After experiencing domestic violence in a relationship, I believe that you should never allow yourself to be physically or emotionally abused, I do realise that this is not always possible. I would like to think that I have strong family values. My family is very important to me, I try to do everything possible to make sure that my son does not go through the childhood I had. I try to always be there for family and friends if they need someone to talk to, I am very open-minded. I believe that you should respect people no matter what age, gender or race they are. Education is very important to me. As a child, I was never taught this. I believe that deciding to go to university has made me a good role model for my son. Overall, I think I have become a good citizen and a valued member of society.
The General Social Care Council (GSCC) was established in October 2001 under the Care Standards Act 2000 (Sussex & Scourfield, 2004). It acts as the guardian of standards for the social care workforce in England. The function of the GSCC is to increase the protection of service users and carers by regulating the social care workforce and by ensuring that work standards within the social care sector are of the highest quality. They have devised a set of standards (codes of practice) that employees and employers must practice by (Sussex & Scourfield, 2004). For the purpose of this essay, I am going to explore section one of the codes of practice. 1.1 Treating each person as an individual (GSCC, 2002). Individuals who need support from social services are normally put into groups. People become labelled as “the learning disabled” or “the old person,” this can lead to stereotyping. As a social worker I must learn to realise the diversity of individuals, characteristics of one individual within a group could be very different to others (Davies, 2002). If a person feels that they do not matter as an individual and they are just one of a group then they may feel devalued and insignificant. 1.2 Respecting and, where appropriate, promoting the individual views and wishes of both service users and carers (GSCC, 2002). The actions that indicate lack of respect may include not acknowledging an individual when you walk into their personal space and making decisions about the care of that person without involving them (Koprowska 2005). I would need to promote the individuals views and wishes by involving them in any decisions made about what was going to happen next. 1.3 Supporting service users rights to control their lives and make informed choices about the services they receive (GSCC, 2002). By giving the service user choice, I would enable them to retain ownership of their life through decision-making and control. This would leave the service user feeling empowered, which promotes choice. 1.4 Respecting and maintaining the dignity and privacy of service users (GSCC, 2002). Promoting someone’s dignity means that as a social worker you do not engage in any intervention that is demeaning or that devalues the individual (Sussex & Scourfield, 2004). 1.5 Promoting equal opportunities for service users and carers (GSCC, 2002).
It is an important duty of social workers to promote equality within all the different groups they work with. 1.6 Respecting diversity and different cultures and values (GSCC, 2002). Society is culturally diverse; each individual within society has their own beliefs, religion and values. Promoting diversity is about recognising the significant and valuable contribution that all individuals can make to society often because of their differences (Davies, 2002). I think that I can relate some, not all, of my values to the codes of practice. As mentioned before my main value would be that I would treat someone the way I would like to be treated. I feel this covers many of these values.
I will now discuss a situation that challenges my own value base; I will also use the GSCC codes of practice in relation to the situation. An 86 year old woman has lived with her daughter for over 10 years. The daughter is finding it difficult to cope with her mother. She is considering moving her in to a care home. Her mother does not want to go. My initial personal reaction would be that the daughter is overlooking the needs of her mother and her mother’s wishes, by considering putting her mother into care she is being inconsiderate. Personally, I feel sympathy for the mother and think she should stay at her daughter’s home in the environment in which she knows and feels most comfortable. To force her out could have detrimental consequences on her well-being. I believe that family should look after one another and in particular to look after the elderly and to always show them respect. As a social worker, I would have to recognise that both service users are individuals within their own right and with their own personal differences. I would need to accept the individual, even at times it may happen that I do not agree with the service user I must accept them as the individuals that they are and with respect and dignity. I would have to have a non judgmental attitude, I should not judge either the mother or daughter by approving or disapproving nor by assigning any guilt or innocence and above all not hold either of them as being responsible for their problem and their needs. A good working relationship can be established by applying a non-judgmental attitude; this will also show trust and respect. By discussing and exploring with them both other options and choices they may have, gives them both the opportunity to make informed decisions and be responsible for their actions. After reflecting on my personal values and the professional value base I can see there is conflict. It is clear that initially, I have not given the daughter the same consideration as her mother, by not recognising that she has the same rights as her mother, with her own personal differences and needs. By doing so I have in effect oppressed her and this could be detrimental in achieving progress for her and her mother. As a social worker it would be my role to counteract the effects of oppression by focusing on both mother and daughter so they could gain control of their own lives, as they may feel disempowered by their situation so by adopting an anti oppressive approach this would aim to empower them both.
No matter what, we all form our own opinions, beliefs and values, as it is human nature to do so. It is the way we use our personal values in a professional context that could cause problems as a social worker.
Social workers encounter the most vulnerable and oppressed people in society. Therefore, it is their duty to recognise this and use their knowledge and professional values to help service users gain control of their lives again.
