Discussion 1: Social Work as an Ethical Profession

Social work is a profession bound by a code of ethics, one which has evolved in conjunction with the development of social work practice. The code of ethics outlines the mission and values of the social work profession, as well as the subsequent principles and standards that demonstrates those values. The code is not a rule book, but a set of guidelines that helps a social worker choose the most appropriate course of action.

Codes of ethics or discussions of ethics can be formal, sometimes resembling legal language, and adopted by varied groups. When examined closely and analyzed, they can become powerful, and their meaning can evolve with your experience. And they serve a practical purpose, especially in social work—they are guiding principles and a checkpoint. In this Discussion, you reflect on the NASW Code of Ethics to begin the process of finding how its meaning can apply to your practice.

To Prepare

• Read the NASW Code of Ethics in its entirety, including Preamble, Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics, Ethical Principles, and Ethical Standards.


• Your Instructor will assign you to a small discussion group with up to five peers.


• Each student in the Discussion will be assigned one or two section(s) of the code (e.g., Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to Clients, Colleagues, in Practice Settings, as Professionals, to the Social Work Profession, Broader Society).


• While each student will be assessed independently for their assigned contribution, the goal is for the group to provide a complete description of the entire code to present to the class.

By Day Wednesday

PostIn your assigned group the following:

• Describe professional ethics and the purpose of the NASW code of ethics in your own words.


• Explain the section of the code that you were assigned.


• Describe the standards within that section in your own words.


• Provide a specific example of how a social worker would apply these ethical standards in their practice.

By Wednesday

Respondto a different group than the one you were assigned. Compare and contrast the information shared in your group with how the ethical standards were explained by the other group.

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