Social Work: Career Goals and Mission

Every social worker’s goal and mission is to improve the values of others’ lives. People in this field focus on empowering those who are living in poverty, Oppression, and are vulnerable. The NASW code of ethics is a code that every social worker must abide by, this code gives them basic guidelines they should follow to keep their work at a consistent professional level.

Social workers must focus on a person’s surrounding environment and be able to identify contributing problems in their clients living conditions. The people who are supported by social workers are referred to as clients. Clients can be individuals, groups, families, organizations, or even communities. This requires social workers to be aware to the cultural, ethnic, and racial differences in the people they encounter. This helps to put an end to oppression, discrimination, poverty, and other forms of social injustice. I choose the NASW code of ethics because it was the code that most closely fits my beliefs and my future career path I wish to take.

Six Core Values of Social Work to Achieve Career Goals

These are service, social justice, dignity, and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. These core principles are the central values a social worker should use when assisting clients in everyday situations. Social workers should use this tool to guide their clients and treat them with dignity and respect. The Social Workers Code of Ethics are at the core of the profession and are of great importance to all who work as a social worker as well people who may be studying to enter this field. They help in making sound judgments and decisions when dealing with all sections of the population regardless of the clients’ religion, race, or ethnicity.

The first core value that I closely Identify with is service. The value of service is providing support to those in need is a critical goal for all of those looking to practice in the field of Social Work. These services can include, but are not limited to, addressing social problems, helping those in need, and volunteering their knowledge to those who cannot otherwise afford such help. I identify with this value because I have always wanted to serve people and help people in some way. I have always wanted to make an impact in someone’s life and improve their enhancement of life.

The second core value that I closely Identify with is Social Justice. Social justice is also important to me and is an important core value for a Social Worker to develop. Justice refers to fairness which is something that every individual deserves to be treated with. As a Social Worker one will come across many individuals from several diverse walks of life, no two cases will ever be the same. Some of these walks of life can leave a client susceptible, defenseless, demoralized, oppressed, and troubled. Social justice aims for the good of the whole community. It requires people to encourage, work with, and organize with others to achieve together a work of justice. Therefore, it is important to learn what Social Justice is, and how to support people from falling victim to inequality.

The third value that I closely Identify with is dignity and worth of every single person. To respect the dignity and worth of each individual means that social workers recognize the humanity within each person regardless of how that person may be judged by others. Social workers are reminded that there are times and conditions when one individual, or a group of people have been judged to be less than fully human. Social workers must resist accepting such judgments, and must insist that individual clients be treated with dignity and respect in recognition of our common humanity. Dignity and worth of a person is necessary to establish social justice.

I did not feel there were any parts of the National Association of Social Workers code of ethics that I didn’t really agree with. I believe the NASW code of ethics is an adequate starter guide for new social workers. It covers all the basic ethical dilemmas that happen more often in the field of human services’. The NASW Code of Ethics for social workers are quite extensive and thoroughly explain the goal of a social worker, professionalism and standards of the relationships between and among individuals, groups and the community.

The NASW code of ethics for social workers lists very detailed matters covering all parts of social work and work ethic. The code lists the ethical rules for people in the field and for the wider society. There may be some difficulties acting out these principles for the professionals protected by this code because they are very comprehensive and strict, or limiting. One may be justice. A social worker may feel that their client is not guilty of a crime and want to shelter them from the law. This is against the code of ethics because the social worker must do what is not only right for the client, but for the broader society. This also ties in with another value, Integrity. The social worker must show integrity and do what is required of them. Another value would be respect for others. The social worker must put aside his preconceptions and prejudice opinions and treat their client fair and worthy. In a global demanding world, which the need to answer privileges and oppressions grow exponentially, we begin by reflecting how our personal understanding may affect our ability to help, lead and relate. It is to find profound ways to better relate as we march onto our mission to end social injustices.

Conclusion

The goal of a social workers stays the same. Their mission is to enhance the wellbeing of others and improve quality of life. Social work is about encouraging the general welfare of society by representing those who are most vulnerable. The NASW code of ethics helps navigate these challenges throughout their careers and provides a framework for the principles and standards that they must uphold.

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