Social Work, Law and Ethics

by Dickens; Jonathan

• ISBN13: 9780415590150
• ISBN10: 0415590159
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-11-05
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Law and ethics are two vital aspects of social work all social workers need to practice according to the guidance, and within the limitations, provided by the law and their code of ethics. However, the relationship between the law and social work values and ethics is not without its tensions and this book takes a problem-based approach to explore the dilemmas and challenges that can arise. The first two chapters set out frameworks for thinking about the law and ethics, and how they relate to social work. They also introduce some of the big philosophical and sociological questions about the purposes of law and of ethics and how they relate to society more generally. The text then explores a series of areas where profound dilemmas arise such as suicide, respecting peoples' choices but ensuring their safety and that of others, making allowance for different cultural traditions and breaking confidentiality. In each of the problem-based chapters, this accessible text: outlines the relevant law pulls out key ethical questions and challenges for social work analyses 'typical' social work examples discusses court judgments in leading cases considers the implications of different ethical frameworks. Social Work Law and Ethicshighlights what the law says and what it offers, what ethical principles are at stake, and what these imply for social work policy and practice. In this way, it uses difficult scenarios to analyse the dynamic interactions of social work, law and ethics. It is essential reading for all social work students.