As a social service worker, you have to accept diversity in the individual victims. There is a lot that can be expected from victims especially women, especially in a diverse environmental setting (United States. 1990) . It is quite difficult and specifically unprofessional to judge an individual by their physical appearance. While working at this organization, I have been dealing with women of different codes and principles. The core objective of my organization is to provide food and clothing to the disadvantaged women in the community. Most of the women who have been visiting me are those without proper clothing and no make-up or any other forms of accessories at all (values, 2). Most of their clothes that they come in are mostly torn or over worn. They always look hungry and not bold enough to share their experiences and problems, let alone sitting across my table and have a meal.
Miss Lily was different. Her approach was confusing. At first, I thought she was a colleague. I, however, took a thorough and critical consideration as she shortened the distance between us and decided that she was not one of us. As such, this is because we had certain dressing codes, even though we were at liberty to dress the way we wanted, we had a strict professional rule that guided the dress codes as social workers. She had too much made up on, and her clothes were not suitable for the environment and the general climate of the area, she wore light and revealing clothes, with fancy boots, yet it was a chilly morning. I eventually concluded that she was a visitor, a philanthropist, a donor or something of the sort.
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To my utter surprise and disbelief, Miss Lily turned out different. She tells me a totally different and compromising story from what I had expected. It was beyond my conception and belief to hear about her sleepless and hungry nights. She was a young woman, probably age mates with my sister in the second year of college. She looked decent, and her health was not bad or at least not yet. I was initially overwhelmed specifically by the parental instincts, being a mother. She was too young to go through all that she told me she was going through. I was empathetic and sympathetic to her pathetic situation. She was engaging in unlawful activities, not one but several at the same time and a very tender age. She was practicing prostitution, drug use, and definitely smuggling.
These acts were not only unlawful but most significantly detrimental to her health especially because she was a young woman; it worsens the situation. Miss Lily had a drug addiction. She could not go without her common drugs. Her prowess at her ‘job’ depended on the drugs. It’s, therefore, clear that most of the mess that she had driven herself into was a result of the drug abuse (United States, 1990) . She does most of the unsocial activities when not in her right mind, under the drug influence. She was in a difficult situation. She was a drug addict, a sex worker and now pregnant, not sure of who was responsible for her pregnancy, and not sure about her health condition because whoever impregnated her could have as well infected her with sexually transmitted diseases. Her drug addiction not only endangers her health as an individual user but also profoundly exposes her unborn child to many secondary effects of drugs on children born of addict mothers.
I felt the need to help Miss Lily stop the things that she was doing and guide her towards a more meaningful life, a better life for not only herself and the child but also the community and the country at large. I at once felt like she was my responsibility and she was my main project in the organization at that particular time (values, 5). She needed proper food and rest as an initial step as I figured out what to start with in the process of getting her off the streets. As a professional in social matters, I had to follow the rules and regulations that govern my job, to uphold not only mine but also the organization's reputation. The following are the ethics and professional principles that helped me respond to Miss Lily and help get her to a better place in the society;
Confidentiality, respect, and privacy
We all face certain issues as individual humans. Life is full of hurdles that we cannot completely avoid. Some of the problems that we face in our daily lives are sensitive while some are common, normal problems. The community and the society in general responds differently to societal matters. Most individuals prefer to be selective on what to reveal to the community and what not, regardless of how much they could be suffering and how of use it would be to share the particular problem with the community (United States. 1990) . For instance, using my case, Miss Lily would be very uncomfortable if the whole community knew that she was a hopeless addict, a sex worker and irresponsibly expectant at the same time.
It was my duty to guarantee her absolute confidence not only to serve her interest but also as per the requirement of our professional principles. I would deal with the situation directly with Lily. I would not involve a third party without her assent. To ensure confidentiality of my client as per the professional standards, I will make sure that all the information I gather concerning my client’s situation is directly from her (values, 15, 16). This is paramount even as I strive to find solutions to the problems. It will give me an easier time as a professional in my capacity to use her information to formulate possible solutions than to try and solve her problems using someone else’s information.
It is not easy to gauge accuracy in the information given by a third party, especially without the approval of the client. Confidentiality is a crucial principle as it makes the client easily accepted and absorbed in their respective communities. It eliminates prejudgments by the individuals of the community who might find it hard to accept that the affected person has changed for the better, and also dispels fears and paranoia from the victims. They will easily embrace the new environment and move on with their lives like any other individual member of the community.
Professional behavior
However difficult Miss Lily’s situation might present, I have to remain composed and as professional as possible so as to avoid any forms of unethical misconducts in the course of my services as a sociologist. As much as I empathize with my client, being just about the same age as my sister in college, I must remain professional and follow all the guiding rules and regulations that govern our profession as sociologists (values, 14).
This principle guides and thus ensures that any social worker dealing with any given client remains as professional as per the standards of the codes of ethics. Under this principle, all social workers are expected to comply with the relevant, specified laws and regulations to work properly and successfully with the society. Keeping it professional with my client, Miss Lily, will make my work easy and successful. Being professional earns respect from your client (values, 13). For this matter, Lily will develop respect for both me and my job. She will thereby respond appropriately. Professionalism eliminates factors that might lead to deviation from the expected task.
Professional competence
Many elements are encompassed in this principle, professional competence. It is the ability of any given social worker to render their services up to the standards of their professional requirements (values, 18). The principle entails the ability of the sociologist to combine all other rules and regulations and blend them with other principles and codes of ethics and adhere to them appropriately for success in their work. It also profoundly involves rationalism in the sociologists’ individual judgment on a given problem as presented by the client. The worker is always expected to make sound judgments, make rational decisions and come up with possible, applicable and best alternative solutions to remedy the situation (values, 9). Miss Lily’s case requires critical thinking and high level of professionalism in any decided approach. I must be tactical and strategic to solve her puzzle and bring her back to the society.
Informed consent rules
This is a principle rule that was enacted by law. It is unlawful as a professional to conduct any investigations or research on any given individual or group without their knowledge. Any participant in the investigation process must be well informed of what is going on, the whole process and the possible outcomes. They must be well informed of the relevance of their information and anonymity if need be. In case there are any benefits attached to their services, they must be told in advance and allowed to negotiate if they are not satisfied with the terms and conditions.
These processes are usually voluntary. The participants should know this to avoid pressure and panic. In my case, Miss Lily will have to know and understand that that her health and welfare in the society solely depend on the information that she provides me with. After I make it clear to her, she will be at ease to disclose all the information consciously, confidentiality guaranteed.
Social responsibility
Social responsibility is a crucial principle that helps maintain ethics in the societies as well as a good relationship between the society/clients and the social workers. It is important for the sociologists to know that it is their social obligation and responsibility to make sure that every individual in the community or society is living well and not challenged by any social matters (values, 9).
Sociologists serve to safeguard the welfare of all the individual members of any presented society. It was, therefore, my duty to make sure that Lily gets over her social predicaments and resumes her normal, purposeful life in the community. It was my social obligation as a sociologist to guide her and make her see and realize that she was in a bigger trouble as a drug user than not.
Miss Lily’s predicament is unusually complicated. There has to be a lot of experience with similar cases to come up with any useful solution. Circumstances tremendously victimize her. It will not be a walk through the pack for any social service students to solve such a situation because of the following reasons;
Miss Lily was homeless
Any social workers are trying to salvage Lily’s situation had to make sure she has a home from where she can be attended to conveniently. Lily does not have a home or even food to start with. She stayed in the streets all night and on friends’ couches. It would be inappropriate to attend to her from someone else’s home as privacy and confidentiality will be compromised.
She has no job
Lily probably has no professional qualifications that could offer her a job as an alternative source of livelihood. She engages in prostitution for a living. If one has to stop her from doing this unsocial and unlawful act, then they will have to offer her a job as well. She solely depended on sex worker for her living. And things are getting tougher because she is expectant.
She suffers an addiction
A drug addiction is not an easy habit of fighting. It is a slow and gradual process. It might take a very long time for Lily to quit drugs, depending on her level of addiction (Sheff, D. 2013) . The fact that she is expectant makes it worse as she could suffer severe withdrawal symptoms which might affect the development of the child.
As a student of sociology, I would be very tactical and objective when dealing with Miss Lily’s case. I would deal with the situation as follows;
Provide the fundamental needs
Lily is a young woman, probably in her late teenagehood. She still requires close care and guidance. Having no home or family to guide and take care of her, I will take the initiative of providing her a suitable home where she will be comfortable. She will then be provided with all her personal needs, food, clothes and medical care (values, 9). This will eliminate the need for her to go to the streets to look for money (United States. 1990) .
Fight her addiction
While in a place she can call home, it will be easier to fight her addiction. She had mentioned earlier in her case that she took the drugs to work properly as a sex worker. Being in a home where she can access all she needs will reduce the need for drug use, or at least she will not use much (Sheff, D. 2013) . This would be a good start to fight her addiction. She can be made to join various groups and activities to keep her engaged (values, 12).
Some of the activities that Lily should engage in while at home are those specifically to exploit and develop her social skills and talents. Once she realizes what she is good at, it can be well nurtured in her, with help from professionals so that she can use it as a way of fending for herself later in life.
References
Australian Psychological Society. (1997). Code of ethics . Carlton, Victoria: Australian Psychological Society.
Australian Association of Social Workers. (2010). Code of ethics . Canberra, A.C.T: Australian Association of Social Workers.
O'Donohue, W. T., & Ferguson, K. E. (2003). Handbook of professional ethics for psychologists: Issues, questions, and controversies . Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE Publications.
Martin, C. W., Vaught, W., & Solomon, R. C. (2010). Ethics across the professions: A reader for professional ethics . New York: Oxford University Press.
García, . A. J. M., & Quinn, W. (2010). Professional ethics: Fundamental part . Guadalajara, Jalisco: Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente.
Goldman, A. H. (1980). The moral foundations of professional ethics . Totowa, N.J: Rowman and Littlefield.
Sheff, D. (2013). Clean: Overcoming addiction and ending America's greatest tragedy .
Bolton, J., Kenna, C., SDMC Productions,, & TMW Media Group,. (2014). Troubled teens talk drug addiction .
United States. (1990). Health care for the homeless: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred First Congress, second session, on H.R. 3789 a bill to amend the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to extend programs providing urgently needed assistance for the homeless, and for other purposes, June 15, 1990
‘ core social service values’ slides.
