Ethical Dilemmas in Social Work and Human Services Capstone Projects

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Ethical dilemmas often arise in Social Work and Human Services practice, where professionals must navigate complex situations involving conflicting values, duties, and the best interests of clients. For your Capstone project, addressing ethical dilemmas is essential, as it demonstrates your ability to engage with real-world issues while adhering to professional standards.

1.1 Understanding Ethical Dilemmas in Social Work

An ethical dilemma occurs when a social worker faces a situation in which there are conflicting ethical principles, and no solution seems to satisfy all of them. Common examples in social work include:

  • Balancing client autonomy with professional judgment: When a client’s decision conflicts with what a social worker believes is in the client’s best interest (e.g., refusing treatment).
  • Confidentiality versus harm prevention: When a client reveals information that might cause harm to themselves or others, and the social worker must decide whether to breach confidentiality.
  • Resource allocation: When there are limited resources, and decisions must be made about who gets access to critical services, which can raise fairness and justice issues.

1.2 Addressing Ethical Dilemmas in Your Capstone

In your Capstone project, you can:

  • Identify the dilemma: Describe a specific ethical conflict that may arise in your proposed intervention or program, such as dealing with a noncompliant client in a domestic violence shelter.
  • Analyze potential resolutions: Provide potential approaches for resolving the dilemma while maintaining ethical integrity. This might involve consulting ethical guidelines, seeking supervision, or balancing multiple perspectives.
  • Apply ethical frameworks: Use frameworks like utilitarianism, deontology, or virtue ethics to weigh the options and make a decision.
  • Consider professional guidelines: Refer to professional ethical codes such as the NASW Code of Ethics (National Association of Social Workers) when making your analysis and decisions.

1.3 Ethical Decision-Making Models

Use established ethical decision-making models to guide your process. These models typically include:

  • Identifying the problem.
  • Exploring alternatives.
  • Considering the consequences of each option.
  • Consulting with supervisors or colleagues.

Published by Lisa