Core Competency 2

Mia Goodman
Core Competency 2
Apply social work ethical
principles to guide
professional practice.
Practice Behavior 2.1 Recognize and manage personal
values in a way that allows professional values to guide
practice.
There are several different situations
that come into our office as school
social workers. Many of them that
personally go against what I value,
however I put my personal troubles
and beliefs aside in order to do what
is best for the student. Allowing to
them to see what they value and
building from their strengths.
Practice Behavior 2.2 Make ethical decisions by applying standards of the National Association of
Social Workers Code of Ethics and, as applicable, of the International Federation of Social
Workers/International Associational of School of Social Work Ethics in Social Work, Statement Principles
It is impossible to keep confidentiality when students are threatening
to harm themselves or other people around them. Many times these
students tell you in confidence that they are simply venting.
However it is in the best interest of the student and people around
them that school social workers take immediate action whenever
situations like this arise.
Practice Behavior 2.3 Tolerate ambiguity in resolving ethical
conflicts
Administrators can be the toughest critics when working in
school social work. They have a tendency to only look at the
negative behaviors of students versus the positive in order to
keep their school safe and on the right track. However, doing
this can push some of the best students away and discourage
them. It is important as the school social worker to assure the
administrators that students who show signs of behavior
problems have great qualities and are worth the fight to keep in
the school.
Practice Behavior 2.4 Apply strategies of ethical reasoning to arrive at
principled decisions
Partaking in daily discussions, observation, and questions
provides example of how to use strategies of ethical
reasoning directly with clients.