Introduction
Community and disability services workers are constantly working in a legal and political environment, but sometimes the problems you face in your work are ethically based rather than legally based. It is important for you to be able to understand the difference between ethical and legal problems/issues
Quotation
'The (human service) worker cannot only see him or herself simply as an agent of government policy, but must be sensitive to ethical and human rights issues, and have a clear understanding of their role in an arena where government policy is often hostile to 'social work' values and to Australia's international human rights obligations.'
Swain, PA (ed.), In the Shadow of the Law, chapter 21, page 244.
An ethical framework refers to the system of principles, rules or standards by which human actions are judged right or wrong. All human service workers come to their role with their own values and beliefs that they need to be aware of and deal with on a daily basis.
This section encourages you to examine your own personal values, your work practices and how these align with the ethical work standards required of the community and disability services worker. In particular, it examines some of the typical ethical dilemmas that a community and disability services worker may be confronted with. You will be shown some useful strategies for resolving issues that help ensure good outcomes for clients and employees alike.