Week 3

Question 1

What is the overarching goal of professional regulation?

Answer 1

Protection of the public

Question 2

What does professional regulation do?

Answer 2

Gives the regulatory body power to manage members’ practice and behaviour; ensures that members have the knowledge and skills associated with specialized services

Question 3

What are the key reasons for registration (from the slides)

Answer 3

• societal understanding
• sociopolitical influence
• professional skills and standards (codifies boundaries, focuses on client, etc.)
• gives clients an avenue to file complaints
• codifies standards of practice

Question 4

What can be a drawback of the whole registration thing?

Answer 4

Can privilege direct/clinical practice and leave out the social justice roots of social work

Question 5

What are boundaries?

Answer 5

the separation or safe space that exists to give each person a sense of legit control in a relationship

Question 6

What is a boundary violation? What is a boundary crossing?

Answer 6

Boundary violation = when a social work intentionally exploits a situation to further their own goals/meet their own needs

Boundary crossing = action involves no ill intent, has no exploitative effect and meets clients needs instead of the worker’s

Question 7

What are the 3 requirements of the duty to warn?

Answer 7

1) is there a clear risk to an identifiable person?
2) is there a risk of serious bodily harm, psychological harm, or death?
3) is the danger imminent or likely?

Question 8

What the components of informed consent?

Answer 8

A requirement of social work practice; may be implied but don’t count on it; making sure the person understands risks and benefits of intervention; can’t be induced or coerced; can be revoked at any time

Question 9

What is an ethical dilemma?

Answer 9

a situation involving a choice between two equally unwelcome alternatives where it is not clear which choice is the right one

Question 10

What is moral distress?

Answer 10

The stress that occurs when a social worker believes they know the right thing to do but institutional or other constraints make it difficult to pursue the desired course of action

Question 11

According to Abramson (1996), ethically aware social workers will want to recognize

Answer 11

Their responsibility to maintain the integrity of the profession by practicing within their area of competence, avoiding dishonesty and fraud, not allowing conduct in their private life to interfere with their professional role, and dealing with personal issues, such as psychological impairment or substance abuse, so that they do not affect their professional responsibilities.

Question 12

what are regulatory bodies responsible for?

Answer 12

Setting the minimum standards for who can enter the profession, continuing professional development, practice skills, and professional ethics

Question 13

what is professionalism?

Answer 13

the standards that professionals are expected to meet; about the knowledge and skills associated with specialized services

Question 14

what are the components all regulatory bodies must have?

Answer 14

internal structure, including a board of directors; standards that are formalized into regulations; a system for the public to file complaints; a process for members to defend themselves from complaints

Question 15

what are some tips outlined by spencer et al. for avoiding an ethics complaint?

Answer 15

1) if something is outside your expertise, refer the case to someone else
2) listen to your inner voice; if something doesn’t feel right, consult with your supervisor or someone else with relevant expertise
3) keep accurate and complete records; these will support your decision making process
4) participate in regular supervision
5) exercise your judgement

Question 16

what are some prevention techniques for burnout, fatigue, and stress?

Answer 16

Maintaining clear boundaries between personal and professional; recognizing own limitations; variety in work assignments; finding opportunities for professional development; having a strong identity as a social worker participating in social justice activities; engaging with like minded colleagues

Question 17

what are the two ways a regulatory body might respond to professional incapacity?

Answer 17

1) establishing a board or tribunal process to assess whether the member is able to continue practicing
2) making a decision outside a hearing; in this case, the complaint is managed privately and outside of the public eye. the member may undergo a mental and physical assessment and consequently be referred to a treatment program

Question 18

what are burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress?

Answer 18

burnout is a form of exhaustion caused by constant exposure to other people’s problems; compassion fatigue has all the same symptoms but has more impact on the emotions of the worker since they have empathized too often with a clients pain; secondary traumatic stress is where the worker shows the same symptoms as their clients as a result of constant exposure to traumatic events

Question 19

what is the “not quite a-g” approach?

Answer 19

A) ask clarifying questions
B) be mindful of vulnerabilities and oppressions (does a large scale issue need addressing? will considered actions harm a vulnerable person?)
B) be mindful of possibilites and opportunities
C) consult with an individual with more experience
D) determine if this is an ethical challenge or challenging situation (already addressed by practice guidelines, policies or laws)
D) draw up a plan
E) effect your plan
E) evaluate your plan
F) find the lesson
G) go on with your life

Question 20

what is paternalism?

Answer 20

directly contravenes many social work principles; when one or more individuals take control of the decision making of another human being, in place of the individual taking self-determined responsiblity for their decisions or actions

Question 21

according to baines, what are the qualities of the activist social work practitioner?

Answer 21

Be good at your job; be charming, likeable, human; use your priviliege; remember you’re an instrument; remember the system wasn’t made by or for us and we don’t need to defend or prop it up; build your allies