4.2 Ethical Standards for Human Services Professionals
4.2 Ethical Standards for Human Services Professionals
As you consider entering the profession of human services, it is important to think about the role you will play as well as the responsibilities that come with that role. One of the joys and challenges of working with human beings is that unique interactions occur every day. Whether you are a director, a supervisor, a receptionist, an assistant, or a case manager, you will encounter situations that you have not seen before. The field of human services was developed in response to human needs and human problems. It is a profession dedicated to helping diverse individuals solve the challenges they face while valuing each person’s community, culture, and self-determination. While doing so, the professional must act with integrity and compassion, and with social justice in mind.
There is no set of directions to follow when you work with individuals. When putting together a piece of furniture or baking cookies, for instance, you might follow instructions or recipes. You might even deviate a little bit or add your own flair to the project. Working with individuals and families, however, requires a stronger internal set of values and principles. That foundation is one that you build inside yourself using the tools of education, experience, and an understanding of ethics, which are the moral principles of the profession. To make ethical decisions, we must be aware of the biases and pressures that influence our thinking. We must also be aware of the intersection of the systems of privilege that shape the lens we use to see the world around us and how we use the information and influence we have.
Codes of ethics for the human services profession will help you build your professional foundation. In fact, you will be required to use that code as soon as you start working, including during your practicum and internship experiences.
All professions have a code of ethics, and those codes have many similarities in terms of how they relate to being responsible toward clients, colleagues, and society. For example, psychologists, attorneys, medical professionals, and social workers all embed these obligations and duties within their ethical codes. In this chapter, we focus on the Ethical Standards for Human Services Professionals from the National Organization for Human Services (Figure 4.1).
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Figure 4.1. The National Organization for Human Services regulates the profession of human services.
Any code of ethics is also embedded within the cultural norms of the local community, the country, and the ethos of the world. As we examine ethics, we must also look at values and culture. It is important to note that different countries and cultures have differing values and that subcultures within the United States may conflict with, complement, and/or mirror the country’s overall norms.
It is critical to pay attention to the cultures and values of the families that you work with, as well as being mindful of