Ethics for Social Service Professionals

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Class
SCWK 1303
Ethical considerations based on social and human services standards. This class includes comparison of ethical codes, confidentiality, dual relationships, guidelines for web counseling, ethical considerations dealing with broadcast media, diversity and multiculturalism. This course includes a lab in which outside assignments and class assignments will be practiced through role plays and other experiential learning experiences.

Student Conduct

Weatherford College has the responsibility and authority to formulate and enforce rules of student conduct that are appropriate and necessary to further the educational goals of the college and its students. Students who enroll must accept responsibility for their behavior and for their ultimate success in higher education. To create a positive climate for learning, Weatherford College expects all students to abide by a Code of Student Behavior. To summarize: Students must maintain high standards of scholastic honesty. Violations of the Code of Student Behavior include but are not limited to cheating on tests of assignments, plagiarism, and collusion; violence or threats of violence; loud or abusive language; and failure to comply with the direction of college officials and instructors.

Course Learning Objectives

  1. Compare and contrast various codes of ethics as they relate to multicultural populations; explain meaning of dual relationships; identify exceptions to confidentiality; and apply guidelines for web counseling practice.
  2. Demonstrate professional ethics
    1. List professional codes of ethics
    2. Explain ethical decision making
    3. Discuss steps in making ethical decisions
    4. Demonstrate how to deal with suspected unethical behavior of colleagues
  3. Discuss the counselor as a person and as a professional
    1. Present self-awareness and the influence of the counselor’s personality and needs
    2. Explain the counselors need for personal therapy
    3. Discuss transference and countertransference
    4. Describe the issue of client dependent
    5. Explain stress in the counseling profession
    6. Present counselor burnout and impairment
    7. Discuss how to maintain vitality through self-care
  4. Describe values and the helping relationship
    1. Show how to clarify values and role in one’s work
    2. Explain the ethics of imposing one’s values on clients
    3. Discuss value conflicts regarding sexual attitudes and behavior
    4. Present the value conflicts pertaining to abortion
    5. Identify the role of spiritual and religious values in counseling
    6. Demonstrate value conflicts regarding end-of-life decisions
  5. Present multicultural perspectives and diversity
    1. Explain the problem of cultural tunnel vision
    2. Discuss the challenges of reaching diverse client populations
    3. Describe ethics codes from a diversity perspective
    4. Address the issue of sexual orientation
    5. Demonstrate the matching of client and counselor
  6. Discuss client rights and counselor responsibilities
    1. Explain the client’s right to give informed consent
    2. Present the content of informed consent
    3. Describe the professional’s responsibilities in record keeping
    4. Identify ethical issues in online counseling
    5. Discuss working with children and adolescents
    6. Explain involuntary commitment and human rights
    7. Present malpractice liability
  7. Explain confidentiality: ethical and legal issues
    1. Present confidentiality, privileged communication, and privacy
    2. Described privacy issues with telecommunication devices
    3. Discuss implications of HIPAA for mental health providers
    4. Demonstrate the duty to warn and to protect
    5. Explain protecting children, the elderly, and dependent adults from harm
    6. Present confidentiality and HIV/AIDS-related issues
  8. Describe managing boundaries and multiple relationships
    1. Discuss the ethics of multiple relationships
    2. Explain the controversies on boundary issues
    3. Demonstrate how to manage multiple relationships in a small community
    4. Discuss bartering for professional services
    5. Describe issues in giving or receiving gifts
    6. Explain social relationships with clients
    7. Discuss sexual relationships in therapy: ethical and legal issues
    8. Show standards on sexual relationships with previous clients
    9. Present nonerotic touching with clients
  9. Describe ethical issues in group work
    1. Identify ethical issues in training and supervision of group leaders
    2. Describe ethical considerations in co-leadership
    3. Explain ethical issues in forming and managing groups
    4. Demonstrate confidentiality in groups
    5. Present values in group counseling
    6. Discuss ethics in the use of group techniques
    7. Demonstrate ethical issues concerning termination
Required Textbooks
Corey, G., Corey, M., & Callanan, P., Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions, 9th ed., Getting Ready to Test: A review/Preparation Manual for Drug and Alcohol Credentialing Examinations, 6th ed.
Grading Standards
Class Participation will consist of in class and out of class readings and projects. Examples are quizzes, glossary, on-line dialogues, internet papers, in class role plays, etc.
Disabilities

ADA Statement:

Any student with a documented disability (e.g. learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) may contact the Office on the Weatherford College Weatherford Campus to request reasonable accommodations. Phone: 817-598-6350 Office Location: Office Number 118 in the Student Services Building, upper floor. Physical Address: Weatherford College 225 College Park Drive Weatherford, TX.

Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is fundamental to the educational mission of Weatherford College, and the College expects its students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials including unauthorized use of Generative AI. Departments may adopt discipline specific guidelines on Generative AI usage approved by the instructional dean. Any student who is demonstrated to have engaged in any of these activities will be subject to immediate disciplinary action in accordance with institutional procedures.
Hope Statement
Any student who faces challenges securing basic resources such as food, clothing, or housing and believes this may affect their performance in their course of study is urged to contact the Director of Student Resources, Dr. Deborah Cregger, for support at (817) 598-6444. Her office is on the first floor of Student Services. If the student prefers, they may contact their instructor, who can reach out on their behalf. Weatherford College also provides the Coyote Pantry. The Pantry maintains boxed and canned foods for students in need. The location of the Coyote Pantry is two blocks west of the Weatherford campus at the Baptist Student Ministry (118 E. Park Ave., Weatherford). Pantry hours are Mon-Thurs. 8:30 am-4:30 pm and Fri. 8.30 am-12:00 pm (817-599-6586).
Revised
Fall 2021
Last Modified
Tuesday, September 14, 2021, 1:34 PM