Format:
Online-Ressource (PDF-Datei: 8 S.)
Content:
This paper presents preliminary results of a research project focusing on implementation and evaluation of a 'Social Work Ethics Audit' risk management tool. The concept of the 'ethics audit' in Australia has not, as yet, been developed as a useful process or tool for front-line professional practice in human service organisations. The leader in the area of 'ethics audits' with specific reference to social work and human services is Frederic Reamer, a social work academic from the US who has developed the 'social work ethics audit' risk management tool. The "ethics audit"is described as an easy to use, practical risk management tool to assess and identify pertinent ethical issues, assess current practices, design strategies to stop ethics complaints, prevent lawsuits and monitor quality assurance. Reamer has outlined the concept of social work 'ethics audits' in detail and has proposed 17 areas of ethical risk that warrant consideration. As many of these areas are specific to the US context, and to social work as a licenced profession in the US, this research was developed to ascertain how the "ethics audit" could be modified for adaptation to the Australian context. The instructions for conduct of an ethics audit outlined by Reamer have been followed to "pilot test" the ethics audit process in 11 selected government and non-government human service organisations located in Queensland. Preliminary results presented in this paper demonstrate the process that agencies have engaged in to implement the ethics audit, and the areas of ethical risk that have been assessed as relevant and important. The research aims to explore the usefulness of the ethics audit to human service agencies and front-line staff, and its complementarity with existing quality assurance or accreditation processes.
Language:
English
Keywords:
Ethik
;
Sozialarbeit
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