Assessment Artifact: Ethical Dilemma Case Study Reflection Paper
I. Assessment Artifact Assignment Outline
The purpose of this assignment is for you to actively consider the role of ethics and ethical conflicts within social work practice. Read and reflect upon the case study and see the assignment directions below:
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A. The Case Study
Agency and Social Worker:
You are a social worker at a non-profit organization, The Best Mental Health Agency (BMHA). The BMHA provides wrap-around services to support at-risk youth and families (i.e., individual, group, and family counseling, parenting workshops, AOD services, etc.). You have a student intern (Taylor) that has a one-year, 20-hours weekly internship. Taylor is in her first year and second semester of an MSW program at The Best University.
The Field Supervisor, the Social Work Student, and Clients:
As the field supervisor, you noticed that your student, Taylor, has been acting a little strange for the past three weeks. Taylor has been distant and avoiding interacting with you. Additionally, she has consecutively canceled the last two weekly field supervision sessions.
Concerned with Taylor’s out-of-character behavior, you called her into your office to inquire about how she is doing and about the behaviors you’ve noticed for the past few weeks. Additionally, you asked if there is something that she wanted to discuss with you. Taylor began to explain that she was troubled by something and she wanted to discuss the matter with you but didn’t know-how.
Taylor began to explain that her boyfriend’s (Timothy) aunt (Rebecca) and daughters (Samantha, 15 and Sarah, 16) are clients at BHMA and on the field supervisor’s caseload. As the field supervisor, you are familiar with Rebecca and her daughters because they are clients in your caseload (you’ve provided individual meetings and three family counseling sessions).
Taylor shared that she believed that she might have crossed boundaries with Timothy and his family because she wanted to impress his aunt Rebecca. You asked Taylor what happened. Taylor shared that when she had access to your computer, she read Rebecca’s family case file. Taylor shared with Rebecca about services the agency offers and comments about what happened during their individual and family sessions during a family functioning.
In supervision, Taylor explained what happened to her supervisor, her mixed emotions feelings, and whether she crossed boundaries. Taylor expressed she was trying to help Rebecca and her daughters but feels uncomfortable when they come to the agency. Rebecca is now beginning to ask Taylor for feedback about her case file after individual and family sessions. Taylor expressed that she feels trapped and doesn’t want to tell Rebecca no. Taylor asked for your advice on what to do.
B. Assignment Directions.
Reflect upon the case study, Write a 3 to 5 paged-paper and discusses the following within your paper:
1 Identify the significant ethical conflict(s) and discuss how you feel about the situation personally.
2 Refer to the NASW Code of Ethics, list by number, and briefly describe all the ethical standards violated.
3 Refer to Technology in Social Work Practice Guidelines, list by number, and briefly describe all the ethical standards violated.
4 Discusses how the National Association of Social Workers (NASW, 2008) Code of Ethics and Technology in Social Work Practice Guidelines might help guide the field supervisor’s response for ethical decision-making to the student (Taylor).
5 As the field supervisor, identify and discuss some of your personal values that may interfere with your professional and ethical response and responsibility in this practice situation.
6 How would you maintain professional body language and oral response to your student when they disclose this information?
7 Create an action plan for how you would address the ethical dilemma from a practice perspective with the student, the university, and the agency.
