Filipino Social Workers

• Filipino Social Workers are defined, according to the International Federation of Social Workers (2014), as advocates for social change, development, cohesion, and empowerment and liberation
• They aim to improve the well-being of individuals, groups, and communities while promoting social change both nationally and globally
• They uphold social, economic, cultural, and environmental justice, human rights, collective responsibility, and respect for diversity
• They commit to equitable, inclusive, and sustainable social change, social welfare, and the empowerment of marginalized people
• They strive to eliminate discrimination and social injustice based on SOGIESC, ethnicity, faith, class, and social status
• They seek to enhance people's capacity to address their needs and promote responsive social institutions
• Social work activities may occur through direct practice, community organizing, supervision, consultation, counseling, administration, advocacy, political action, policy development, education, research, and evaluation

Purpose of the Philippine Social Work Code of Ethics

• Defines ethical responsibilities and expectations for social workers, colleagues, agencies, and the society
• Demonstrates the link between social work values, beliefs, commitments, ethical principles, and professional conduct
• Inspires social workers to strive for ethical and honorable ideals
• Empowers social workers to make informed and ethical decisions when facing dilemmas
• Informs the public about the expected ethical behavior of social workers
• Enforces standards for adjudicating complaints against social workers
• Guides the profession towards dynamic and responsive social work practice

Filipino Social Work Values

• The Code of Ethics emphasizes the balance between professional and Filipino values for contextual and ethical practice
• Filipino social work values align with global standards while highlighting unique expressions in the Philippines
• Values include:
  • Kapwa: shared identity and core Filipino values
  • Pakiramdam: shared inner perception and pivotal interpersonal value
  • Kagandahang-loob: shared humanity and linking socio-personal value
  • Pakikisama and Pakikipagkapwa: smooth interpersonal relationship/ accommodative surface values
  • Lakas ng loob: courage, collective struggle, moving forward, or confrontative surface values
  • Karangalan: dignity, justice, and freedom, or societal values
  • Bayanihan: communal unity, heroism, patriotism, and willingness to act in times of need
• Ethical social work blends core values (service, social justice, dignity, integrity, competence, relationships) with Filipino values
• Merged values include:
  • Service (kawanggawa/paglilingkod): collective provision of social service
  • Social justice and equality (katarungan at pagkakapantay-pantay): propelled by Filipino values and the right to self-determination
  • Dignity and self-worth: reinforced by respecting shared identity (kapwa) and treating each other as equals
  • Spirituality: lived experiences with meaning, gratitude, or faith
  • Personal and professional integrity (dangal or karangalan): honor, dignity, self-awareness, and objectivity, propelled by shared inner perception (pakiramdam)
  • Cultural competence (pangkulturang kakayahan): understanding, sensitivity, responsiveness, and inclusivity of cultural diversity
  • Human relationships: propelled by altruism and compassion (kagandahang-loob)
  • Resilience (katatagan), perseverance, and patience (tiyaga)

Values and Ethical Principles

• Commitment to Professional Service involves empowering clients, respecting self-determination, providing rights-based services, using professional judgment, and practicing responsibly
• Social Justice and Human Rights includes respecting diversity, ensuring equitable resource distribution, upholding self-determination, and challenging discrimination
• Dignity and Worth of the Person involves respecting individuals within their environments, accepting their past, and recognizing their strengths
• Personal and Professional Integrity emphasizes professional self-awareness, dignity, objectivity, non-discrimination, empathy, transparency, and accountability
• Resilience and Perseverance means demonstrating steadfastness, overcoming adversities, utilizing internal strength, adapting to change, and recognizing intrinsic motivation
• Spirituality or Sense of Meaning involves belief in a higher power, belief in goodness, practicing altruism, and respecting cultural beliefs
• Competence requires continuous education, ethical application of theory, expertise sharing through supervision
• Importance of Human Relationship highlights generosity, compassion, communal unity, effective communication, respect, and participatory decision-making
• Dynamism in Personal, Family, and Community Life focuses on respect for privacy, family traditions, and patriotic involvement
• Use of Technology and Social Media involves responsible use of information, appropriate technology use, data integrity, accountability, and adherence to relevant laws

Ethical Standards of Professional Conduct and Behavior

• Social workers must perform various activities in line with ethical standards with regards to these areas:
  • the practice of their profession
  • their relationship towards their colleagues
  • their association with their clients
  • their practice-setting
  • how they act as professionals/themselves
  • their connection with the broader society/public

Ethical Responsibilities to The Social Work Profession

• Social workers must act consistently with the profession’s philosophy, principles, values and must adhere and promote high standards of practice
• At registration, social workers must take an oath to adhere to the Philippine Social Work Code of Ethics, which must also be kept as a reference
• Social workers must always act with honesty, moral uprightness, openness, transparency, and reflexivity in all professional transactions
• To contribute to the knowledge base of social work, lean towards professional advancement for self-development, lifelong learning, and societal progress
• Social workers must employ professional expertise to uphold the integrity and competence and protect the honor of social workers and the profession
• Social workers must use research and knowledge responsibly and with accountability as well as being open to constructive feedback
• Immediately respond and contribute expertise when called upon in emergencies
• Social workers must prevent unauthorized practice and immediately report ethical violations
• For personal and professional welfare, social workers must belong to professional organizations

Evaluation and Research Responsibilities

• Research activities must take ethical considerations with the expertise of social work-researchers and must respect participant rights for consent, participation, and withdrawal
• Social workers must ensure research complies with ethical standards, especially the “do-no-harm principle.”
• Written consent and voluntary withdrawal must be obtained with regard to well-being, privacy, and dignity
• Ensure appropriate electronic technology is used, such as informed consent, participant readiness, and alternative availability
• Adhere to Republic Act 10173 (Data Privacy Law of 2012) and guidelines to ensure proper methodologies in research
• Avoid and declare conflicts of interest and dual relationships
• Research involving human participants (especially vulnerable populations) will undergo ethical review

Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues

• Treat colleagues and members of other professions with respect and accurately represent and protect qualifications, views, and obligations
• Workers must not employ unwarranted criticism in all forms of communication that may include demeaning comments on colleagues' competence or attributes, and follow these guidelines:
  • Ethnicity
  • Sexual orientation
  • Gender identity or expression
  • Age
  • Marital status
  • Political belief
  • Religion
  • Mental or physical ability
• Confidentiality
  • Social workers must safeguard confidential professional information that has been shared
  • Ensure responsible in sharing information to authorized people within laws
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Consultation
  • Acknowledge and respect expertise and collaborate with professionals in a multi-disciplinary manner
  • Perspectives, values, and experience must be applied within the bounds of their profession when contributing to collegial decisions
  • Observe respect and boundaries for professional contributions within multi-disciplinary teams
  • Seek professional advice outside of your domain/expertise
  • Ethical dilemmas and concerns solved through proper channels and with best interests of the client in mind
  • Manage conflict and power disputes with fairness and social justice in mind
• They must adhere to RA 11313 (Safe Spaces Act of 2019) at all times and not commit gender-based sexual harrassment
• Workers must not use power to oppress, malign, demean, marginalize any person in violation of RA 11313 and related laws
• Workers must conduct themselves with competence and professionalism at all times
• Take adequate measures to discourage, prevent, and correct unethical conduct
• In cases of professional misrepresentation, incompetence, or impairment, workers must communicate via proper channels
• Professional organizations must help develop support mechanisms and programs to help build competence of the social work practice
• Organizations must also guarantee effective service-delivery, improved conditions, and participation in social action

Ethical Responsibilities to Clients

• The commitment to clients must promote the holistic well-being and interests of clients
• Uphold rights and privileges based on social justice, human rights, and empowerment
• Primary responsibility involves accountability which entails self-determination and participation in activities that will help growth/development
• Appropriate action taken if a client can't make decisions due to illness
• Engage with family to facilitate informed decisions
• Apply the law if no family is present
• Practice within the bounds of their professional knowledge, qualifications, and expertise
• Must have education, training, license, consultancy, and experience to ensure welfare and professional competence
• Be articulate and adept in using technology
• Must understand/respond to diversity and social issues such as cultural or sexual orientation relating to one's ethnicity, and expression
• Must avoid conflicts of interest with clients
• Engage in business transactions with clients
• Must respect Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173) rules and requirements
• Be professional by refraining from personal information on social media that could cause boundary issues/confusion
• Protect/safeguard client records according regulatory laws
• Maintain professional relationship always, not engaging in any unprofessional manner
• Respect RA 11313 and comply at all times
• Communication with clients should be culturally sensitive, gender-fair and respectful
• Do not accept gifts/favors (unless legally or otherwise agreed to) In exchange for services of gratitude

Social Workers’ Responsibilities to Practice Setting

• Adhere to vision, mission goals of the organization
• Contribute and improve agency policies
• Help create an empowering environment and avoid discrimination
• Provide environments and supervision for training that aligns with labor laws
• Social workers must ensure the effective, efficient, and judicious use of agency resources and funds for effective and efficient service delivery
• Act 2016
• Social Work Supervision and Consultation Social workers must use supervision and consultation competently, guided by necessary knowledge and skills based on their expertise

Boundaries

• Clear, appropriate, and culturally-sensitive boundaries must also be set
• Social workers must supervise and evaluate a supervisee’s performance based on measurable key performance indicators and recommend actions to improve his/her work performance
• Social workers must advocate self-care as an integral part of supervision and mentorship of interns, and agency voluteers

Ethics For Social Work Education and Training

• Must be handled by a qualified and registered social worker
• Supervised field instruction Must evaluate performance for social work instruction based on BS guidelines such as adherence to the Privacy Act of 2012 as required
• Must implement a personal self-care program for students
• Contribute to the design and evaluation of social programs

Continuing Social Work Professional development

• Must provide safe supervision for students that includes gender responsive capability building opportunities that meet the needs/backgrounds of people with disabilities and differences

Social Workers Ethical Responsibility to broader and public society

• Socials workers must act as
  • Executives such as adminstrators Provide financial support for social workers that is sufficient Update and upgrade social competencies that coincides with law