WORK PRACTICES AND PERSONAL VALUES

Social workers: Practices and personal values

Contents

Introduction3

Discussion5

The concept of social work practices5

Social work in northern island6

The roles of NISCC7

Registration and induction7

Training and development8

Professional work practices of a social worker9

Conflicts11

Expecting to achieve unrealistic11

Societal disruption and response12

A multi-disciplinary job12

Higher degree of client involvement12

Difference in perspectives12

Criticism12

Conclusion13

Emotional intelligence13

Reflective practices14

References16

Social work: Practices and personal values

Introduction

The concept of value originates from something that has a superior worth. In context of ethics and personal development, values pertain to “the set of self-established principles that govern virtuous perception and action of an individual”. Ethical values play a very significant role on makeup of conduct of an individual towards self, as well as, the society. Values are normative and concrete, yet they vary from individual to individual. An individual decides the right and wrong in his personal, as well as, social affairs through his own value system. They provide the foundation for an action to be ethical or unethical. Values build moral system of an individual and determine extent of his personal integrity.

The concept of workplace practices pertain to course of action in which things are done and affairs are conducted in the workplace. Workplace practices are defined as “practices through which things are done and managed in an organization or a workplace”. Workplace practices are not individualized, but rather, they are applicable to all individuals working in a particular workplace. Every organization has a defined way of doing things and looks up to its human capital to operate and manage its work in that particular fashion. It includes particular way of doing things in an organizational structure. They are not implemented and practiced by machines, but the, human capital itself. Organizational work practices have a broader context. They include everything falls under organization conduct, that is, processes, procedures, decisions and benchmarks (Boddy & Statham, 2009, pp. 3-5).

Personal values lead to creation of moral, and eventually, ethical principles. The cumulative set of values in an individual that encompasses personal values with their preferences and choices is called 'the value system'. Values are the frameworks pertain to ethical goodness and fairness regarding an individual. They are subjective, yet deep-rooted and well-defined. They hold very significant place in the livelihood, and once created, they are not easily altered by circumstances. Morality of any individual is based on an individualized value system, whereas, ethical framework is a formal and generalized product that eventually forms out of moral values.

Workplace practices are the driving force of employee behaviors and ethical output in any organization. They determine the implementation of organizational objectives, as well as, the structure of organizational culture. Responsible workplace practices lead to well-articulated organizational culture, as well as, fulfillment of the ethical framework towards organization, and the society. They drive the present and future of the organization.

Social work is one of the most significant facets of the human living of today. It is defined as “the attempt to assist individuals and the society to identify, address and resolve issues and problem that pertain to disequilibrium ...