Academic Year/course:
2023/24
274 - Degree in Social Work
26120 - Ethics and social work
Syllabus Information
Academic year:
2023/24
Subject:
26120 - Ethics and social work
Faculty / School:
108 - Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y del Trabajo
Degree:
274 - Degree in Social Work
ECTS:
6.0
Year:
3
Semester:
First semester
Subject type:
Compulsory
Module:
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1. General information
The subject allows students to become acquainted with the main currents of contemporary ethics and the problems that directly concern everyday life. Know and identify professional deontology and handle the deontological codes of Social Work in the resolution of ethical dilemmas. To develop a social and professional ethical conscience by facing situations of need and social risk.
These approaches and goals are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations Agenda 2030 (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/es/) so that the acquisition of the learning results of the subject will contribute to some extent to the achievement of target 4.7 of Goal 4; targets 5.4 and 5.5 of Goal 5; objective 16.7, 16.10 and 16.10.b of Goal 16.
2. Learning results
Apply the value base, ethical standards and codes of ethics of Social Work practice, and to follow them and to critically analyse cases in which ethical dilemmas arise.
Manage ethical dilemmas and problems by identifying them, designing strategies to overcome them and reflecting on their results.
Reflect on their behaviour, and be able to modify it in the light of experience and to identify and review their own personal and professional limits.
Analyse one's own practice and identify its professional limits and shortcomings, and assume responsibility for the continuous acquisition of knowledge and skills.
Scheduling one's work by assigning priorities, fulfilling professional obligations, and evaluating the effectiveness of one's work program.
Critically reflect on the helping relationship in the processes of individual and social improvement of people, in suppositions of different conflictive situations in decision making, taking as a frame of reference the principles of the Code of Ethics of the International Federation of Social Work of respect for Human Rights and Human Dignity and Social Justice; and the premises included in the preface of the document "Ethics in Social Work, Declaration of Principles" signed in Adelaide (2004) .
"Ethical awareness is a fundamental part of the professional practice of social workers. Their ability and commitment to act ethically is an essential aspect of the quality of service they provide to those who use social work services (...) Encourage social workers around the world to reflect on the challenges and dilemmas they face and to base their actions in each individual case on ethics. Some of these problem areas are: - The fact that social workers are often faced with a conflict of interest situation.
- The fact that the social worker has both helping and monitoring functions - Conflicts between the duty of social workers to protect the interests of the people they work with and society's demands for efficiency and utility.
- The fact that resources in society are limited." (FITS, 2004)
3. Syllabus
Thematic block 1: Philosophy
1.- Current ethical currents and moral problems. Introduction to ethical issues.
2. The invention of the social.
3. The problem of power.
4. assisting or governing the poor?
Thematic block 2: Social Work and Social Services
5.- Conceptions of ethics. Ethics of values: ethical values. Ethics and social work. Values in Social Work: human rights and social justice.
6.- Ethical standards and deontology of Social Work -international, national-.
7.- Ethical dilemmas: in service to individuals and families, social policy and planning, and in relationships between professionals.
8.- Ethical risk areas: confidentiality, monitoring, referral, fraud, termination of service, harmful situations, assessment, research, ethical decision-making.
4. Academic activities
The subject aims to promote learning through an active methodology that involves participation and critical reflection on principles, values and social norms and their impact on professional ethics in decision-making in social intervention .
Expository activities: theoretical exposition by the teaching staff; debate and critical reflection: 30 hours (15 hours Philosophy area/15 hours Social Work and Social Services area)
Dynamic activities: practical work in the classroom -group and/or individual-: 60 hours (30 hours Philosophy area/30 hours Area Social Work and Social Services)
- Analysis of audiovisual documents, readings, essays, etc
- Case resolution. Simulations.
- Presentation of papers.
5. Assessment system
A) Mixed system with the following assessment activities
Social Work and Social Services Area
- Portfolio (60%) of small group activities (simulations, case resolution, presentations)
- Final written test (40%) of short questions where the student will demonstrate:
o Critical reflexivity in the resolution of ethical dilemmas in interventions guided by the values and ethical norms, the legal framework and ethical codes of social work.
Philosophy Area
- Practical activities (60%): individual tutored practice (5% T6) + small group practice (55% T2)
- Final written test (40%) of development questions where the student will demonstrate:
o Adequate understanding of the contents worked in the theoretical classes.
B) Simple system: overall evaluation 100% (50% Philosophy/50% Social Work)
o Final written test with development questions, where the student will demonstrate the knowledge of the subject in its two theoretical perspectives; its practical application with critical reflective capacity in interventions guided by the values and ethical standards, the legal framework and codes of ethics of social work.
In order to pass the course in both systems, students must have obtained at least a 5 in each knowledge area and must demonstrate the use of accurate and appropriate language.