Social Work Values

Social Work Values:

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHcasIi5vVc)

Figure 1- Social Work Values

The open university teaches social work students that there are four main components of good social work practice these are:

·         Knowledge

·         Skills

·         Values and Ethics

·         The Social Work Process.

Figure 2: Good Practice.

This is teaching students that having a good process, knowledge, values and etics and skills combined results in good practice.  Values and Ethics play a key factor within this combination. 

The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) define social work values as "meeting human needs and developing human potential. Human rights and social justice serve as the motivation and justification for social work action. In solidarity with those who are dis-advantaged, the profession strives to alleviate poverty and to liberate vulnerable and oppressed people in order to promote social inclusion." (IFSW, 2013)

Currently social work is in a transition from the BASW (British Association of Social Work) to the HCPC (Health Care Professional Council.) The HCPC have embodied values within their guidance for social work professions. The code of values and ethics suggests that a social workers must be aware of:                              

• Service
• Social Justice
• Dignity and Worth of the Person
• Importance of Human Relationships
• Integrity
• Competence
• Awareness of personal values
• Awareness of ethical dilemmas
• Models for ethical decision-making
• Commitment to on-going professional development

The HCPC set out key guidelines for both professionals and students to follow; these cover 14 main areas within one’s own practice and conduct. Within this section reference will be made to specific values that are related to Coach Carters leadership style and how he portrays these values within the film. 

1.You must act in the best interests of service users.

Coach Carter introduced aims to the team, which had focus upon their lives on a long term basis as opposed to the short term basketball season. These aims looked at the players’ life choices, and highlighted upon the extremely high prison rate in those living in the same area as the school, and gave them goals to meet that would improve their chances of going onto a career.

2. You must respect the confidentiality of service users.

During the film the character Cruz comes to Coach Carter for support after the death of a close family member. The coach provides this support for Cruz, but does not discuss this with the other team members or members of staff.

3. You must keep high standards of personal conduct. 

Throughout the film the coach can be seen to have expressed his value base to the team members, this included his views on using the term ‘nigger’. It could be observed that there was a difference in opinions on it’s purpose during conversation. Coach Carter saw it as a derogatory term, whilst the team members would not take offence to it and call it to one another. Although, there was a difference in opinion, Coach Carter ensured that during practice the term would not be used and discussed his reasons behind this. 

4. You must provide (to us and any other relevant regulators) any important information about your conduct and competence. 

Coach Carter uses techniques which he adopts specifically to the team. He named each strategy with a name of his sister, which added humour to the coaching and made it an attractive approach to the team members with their age and range of personalities. This appeared to make the strategies easier to remember for the team members, and added to their effectiveness as a team.

5. You must keep your professional knowledge and skills up to date.

It is unknown during the film if Coach Carter updates his approach and knowledge surrounding coaching basketball. It appears that he sticks to the methods and techniques he knows best, and has seen success with previously, rather than changing his style with any research that has been published surrounding basketball coaching.

6. You must act within the limits of your knowledge, skills and experience and, if necessary, refer the matter to another practitioner.

During the film it can be observed that on a number of occasions that Coach Carter acts above his limits by asking for progress reports from teaching staff at the high school and closing the gym where the team trains. In regards to the progress reports it is explained to him by the head teacher that it is above the staff’s expectations of work to produce additional weekly reports, although Carter is able to sway this opinion by emphasising their importance in his role as a coach. The decision to close the gym is also challenged by the head teacher who again highlights that this is not within his powers as a coach to decide. The gym is reopened following a hearing whereby teachers and members of the community overturned his decision, as they wished to see The Oilers continue to play. 

7. You must communicate properly and effectively with service users and other practitioners.  

The communication observed by Coach Carter throughout the film is authoritative and assertive. This style of communication at times does appear to be a bit harsh and insensitive, but this in keeping with his method of coaching. Achieving a shocked reaction from the players, emphasised his seriousness about the situation and his values. 

8. You must effectively supervise tasks that you have asked other people to carry out.

Coach Carter can be seen to chase up the progress reports he asked to be completed by the team members’ teachers, he does this by speaking to the head teacher as well as individual staff members. Although it took time for these reports to be completed, the task was completed effectively with the results proposed to Carter as he had required them.

However, during a part of the film he leaves his assistant coach to supervise the team members completing push ups and suicides on behalf of Cruz, as he had failed to complete the amount given to him by Coach Carter in order to return to the team.  During this part of the film Carter does not effectively supervise the team, and due to this the correct results may not be produced due to only one individual observing 10 others at one particular time. He will also not be able to provide motivation for the team whilst this task is being completed. 

9. You must get informed consent to provide care or services (so far as possible).

Throughout the film Coach Carter faces disagreement of his methods from both parents and staff at the high school. However, after initial refusal he managed to get both parties to consent to his methods of coaching, after sharing his aims for the team. This disagreement was again faced with the closing of the gym, but again this consent was regained following the team sharing the values of the coach.

10. You must keep accurate records. 

Coach Carter gained regular progress reports from the team members’ subject teachers to monitor their attendance and grades, this helped the students to achieve better grades as team participation was dependent on this. He stored these reports in a filing cabinet, which is also in keeping with confidentiality. 

13. You must behave with honesty and integrity and make sure that your behaviour does not damage the public’s confidence in you or your profession. 

Although Coach Carter’s approach is assertive and authoritative which lead to some team members choosing to leave the team, the members who chose to remain were able to see progress and success within the team. This success in basketball and with their grades, allowed for confidence to be placed in their own abilities to go on and achieve a career in the future. These successes were also seen by the public which raised the profile of Coach Carter’s skills and abilities in leading a team. 

14. You must make sure that any advertising you do is accurate. 

Although Coach Carter did not advertise the team it could be said that he did advertise his rule setting and stuck by this. He stated there would be consequences for turning up late and not achieving good grades to practice and this was portrayed throughout the film. Coach Carter stuck by his word.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fIIzMjuODU)

When entering the profession of social work there are many values to abide by. 
An important value is that personal opinions should be put aside an allow for professional values. 

For example, this can mean for anything a person believes is wrong or inferior, such as being gay, having a different religion, we are asked to put this aside in order to treat the person equally. This can be one of the hardest parts of being a social worker. 

Personal values are set and are usually a very important part of ourselves, making us who we are. Social work does not ask professionals to change or deny those values, however, encourages one to be aware of them so that they do not interfere with professional judgement. 

Within the film Coach Carter does not judge the team in relation to their personal backgrounds or them as people. Even when Cruz rebels at the beginning of the film and doesn't want to follow Coach Carters rules, Coach Carter allows Cruz back into the team and treats him equally. This shows Coach Carter can be professional, no matter what his own personal beliefs about Cruz as an individual; he still treats him as an equal member of the basketball team.   

If you wish to read more about Social Work values and personal values just click on the link below to a newspaper article from 'the magazine for social work students 2008,' it poses some interesting questioning when relating personal and professional values in social work.

The New Social Worker Magazine 2008 article.