NASW Ethical Principles
from
http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp
© 1999 NASW, excerpted here:
Please refer to the NASW website for the full text of the NASW Ethical Code
 The
following broad ethical principles are based on social work's core values of
service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human
relationships, integrity, and competence. These principles set forth ideals to
which all social workers should aspire.
Value:
Service
Ethical
Principle: Social
workers' primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems.
Social workers
elevate service to others above self-interest. Social workers draw on their
knowledge, values, and skills to help people in need and to address social
problems. Social workers are encouraged to volunteer some portion of
their professional skills with no expectation of significant financial return
(pro bono service).
Value:
Social Justice
Ethical
Principle: Social
workers challenge social injustice.
Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf
of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people. Social workers'
social change efforts are focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment,
discrimination, and other forms of social injustice. These activities seek
to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about oppression and cultural and
ethnic diversity. Social workers strive to ensure access to needed
information, services, and resources; equality of opportunity; and meaningful
participation in decision making for all people.
Value:
Dignity and Worth of the Person
Ethical
Principle: Social
workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person.
Social workers treat
each person in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual
differences and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers promote clients'
socially responsible self-determination. Social workers seek to enhance clients'
capacity and opportunity to change and to address their own needs. Social
workers are cognizant of their dual responsibility to clients and to the broader
society. They seek to resolve conflicts between clients' interests and the
broader society's interests in a socially responsible manner consistent with the
values, ethical principles, and ethical standards of the profession.
Value:
Importance of Human
Relationships
Ethical
Principle: Social
workers recognize the central importance of human relationships.
Social workers
understand that relationships between and among people are an important vehicle
for change. Social workers engage people as partners in the helping process.
Social workers seek to strengthen relationships among people in a purposeful
effort to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the well-being of individuals,
families, social groups, organizations, and communities.
Value:
Integrity
Ethical
Principle: Social
workers behave in a trustworthy manner.
Social workers are
continually aware of the profession's mission, values, ethical principles, and
ethical standards and practice in a manner consistent with them. Social workers
act honestly and responsibly and promote ethical practices on the part of the
organizations with which they are affiliated.
Value:
Competence
Ethical Principle:
Social workers practice within their areas of competence and develop and
enhance their professional expertise.
Social workers
continually strive to increase their professional knowledge and skills and to
apply them in practice. Social workers should aspire to contribute to the
knowledge base of the profession.
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