Ethical and Legal Considerations of the Developing Social Worker

Assessment Description
As a future social worker, it is important to have a plan for continued professional growth as well as an understanding of the required social worker dispositions. Additionally, it is considered good practice for professional social workers to join a professional social work organization. Research a professional organization that you might join such as the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), your state’s social work association, or another relevant professional organization.

Write a 1,200-1,750-word paper in the third person about the ethical and legal considerations of the developing social worker to include professional organizations and a plan for continued professional growth. Include the following in your paper:

Ethical and Legal Viewpoint

Volunteerism: What standards do social workers need to uphold in a voluntary position or providing free/pro bono work?
Self-disclosure: Should social workers disclose personal information to a client? If so, when and how is it appropriate?
Objectivity: Why is it important for social workers to remain objective with clients?
Self-care: How can social workers prevent professional burnout?
Spirituality: How can social workers maintain spirituality in and out of practice?
Social Work Dispositions: A review of three social work dispositions as well as an analysis in regards to personal strengths and challenges in regards to the selected dispositions.
Professional Organization Review

A professional organization overview that includes the following:

Membership benefits, available activities and/or services to members.
Current issues addressed by the organization that are relevant to the social work profession. Note: These items are usually listed on the association’s website, but you may research elsewhere for one or two current issues in the field. Examples of current issues could include lobbying efforts for particular populations or specialties in the field, proposed or changing laws/regulations, high profile court cases involving ethical violations, or the like.
When writing the paper, consider the following level-one APA headings to help organize the content:

Ethical and Legal Viewpoint
Professional Organization Review
Include a comprehensive reference page that lists the sources used should be included at the end of the document. The paper should be written in the third person.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

Volunteerism
15 points
Criteria Description
What standards do social workers need to uphold in a voluntary position or providing free/pro bono work?
5. Excellent
15 points
Paper describes the counselor’s standards that must be upheld when in a voluntary position, in a clear, focused, and comprehensive manner.
4. Good
13.05 points
Paper describes the counselor’s standards that must be upheld when in a voluntary position, in a clear and accurate manner.
3. Satisfactory
11.85 points
Paper describes the counselor’s standards that must be upheld when in a voluntary position. Explanation is fairly relevant but lacks some details or quality.
2. Less Than Satisfactory
11.1 points
Paper describes the counselor’s standards that must be upheld when in a voluntary position, in a vague or incorrect manner.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Paper does not discuss the counselor’s ethical and legal position on volunteerism.

Self-Disclosure
15 points
Criteria Description
Should social workers disclose personal information to a client? If so, when and how is it appropriate?
5. Excellent
15 points
Paper describes if and how a counselor would disclose personal information to a client, in a clear, focused, and comprehensive manner.
4. Good
13.05 points
Paper describes if and how a counselor would disclose personal information to a client, in a clear and accurate manner.
3. Satisfactory
11.85 points
Paper describes if and how a counselor would disclose personal information to a client. Explanation is fairly relevant but lacks some details or quality.
2. Less Than Satisfactory
11.1 points
Paper describes if and how a counselor would disclose personal information to a client, in a vague or incorrect manner.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Paper does not discuss the counselor’s ethical and legal position on self-disclosure.

Objectivity
15 points
Criteria Description
Why is it important for social workers to remain objective with clients?
5. Excellent
15 points
Paper describes the importance of remaining objective as a counselor, in a clear, focused, and comprehensive manner.
4. Good
13.05 points
Paper describes the importance of remaining objective as a counselor, in a clear and accurate manner.
3. Satisfactory
11.85 points
Paper describes the importance of remaining objective as a counselor. Explanation is fairly relevant but lacks some details or quality.
2. Less Than Satisfactory
11.1 points
Paper describes the importance of remaining objective as a counselor, in a vague or incorrect manner.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Paper does not discuss the counselor’s ethical and legal position on objectivity.

Self-care
15 points
Criteria Description
How can social workers prevent professional burnout?
5. Excellent
15 points
Paper describes how a counselor can balance his or her life in a clear, focused, and comprehensive manner.
4. Good
13.05 points
Paper describes how a counselor can balance his or her life in a clear and accurate manner.
3. Satisfactory
11.85 points
Paper describes how a counselor can balance his or her life. Explanation is fairly relevant but lacks some details or quality.
2. Less Than Satisfactory
11.1 points
Paper describes how a counselor can balance his or her life in a vague or incorrect manner.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Paper does not incorporate a counselor’s ethical and legal position on self-care.

Spirituality
15 points
Criteria Description
How can social workers maintain spirituality in and out of practice?
5. Excellent
15 points
Paper describes how a counselor will maintain his or her spirituality in and out of practice as a counselor, in a clear, focused, and comprehensive manner.
4. Good
13.05 points
Paper describes how a counselor will maintain his or her spirituality in and out of practice as a counselor, in a clear and accurate manner.
3. Satisfactory
11.85 points
Paper describes how a counselor will maintain his or her spirituality in and out of practice as a counselor. Explanation is fairly relevant but lacks some details or quality.
2. Less Than Satisfactory
11.1 points
Paper describes how a counselor will maintain his or her spirituality in and out of practice as a counselor, in a vague or incorrect manner.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Paper does not discuss the counselor’s ethical and legal position on spirituality.

Social Worker Disposition Analysis (S)
15 points
Criteria Description
Social Worker Disposition Analysis: Review of three social work dispositions and analysis of strengths and challenges. (EPAS 1)
5. Excellent
15 points
Paper contains a personal reflection on three to five dispositions required of a professional counselor. Explanation of strengths and challenges student may face in upholding the dispositions is done in a clear, focused, and comprehensive manner.
4. Good
13.05 points
Paper contains a personal reflection on three to five dispositions required of a professional counselor. Explanation of strengths and challenges student may face in upholding the dispositions is done in a clear and accurate manner.
3. Satisfactory
11.85 points
Paper contains a personal reflection on three to five dispositions required of a professional counselor. Explanation of strengths and challenges student may face in upholding the dispositions is fairly relevant but lacks some details or quality.
2. Less Than Satisfactory
11.1 points
Paper contains a personal reflection on dispositions required of a professional counselor. Explanation of strengths and challenges student may face in upholding the dispositions is vague or missing.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Paper does not contain a personal reflection on the dispositions required of a professional counselor.

Professional Organization Review
15 points
Criteria Description
Membership benefits and current issues.
5. Excellent
15 points
Paper contains a description of membership benefits and current issues. Description is clear, focused, and comprehensive.
4. Good
13.05 points
Paper contains a description of membership benefits and current issues. Description is done in a clear and accurate manner.
3. Satisfactory
11.85 points
Paper contains a description of membership benefits and current issues. Description is fairly relevant but lacks some details or quality.
2. Less Than Satisfactory
11.1 points
Paper contains a description of membership benefits and current issues: however, the description is vague and/or missing required details.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Paper does not contain a description of membership benefits and current issues.

Mechanics of Writing
30 points
Criteria Description
Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use)
5. Excellent
30 points
Writing is consistently clear and concise. Spelling, punctuation, and grammar are free of error. Language use represents high competence in academic writing.
4. Good
26.1 points
Writing is generally clear and concise. Some spelling, punctuation, and/or grammar errors may be found. Language use is appropriate for the academic setting.
3. Satisfactory
23.7 points
Writing is generally clear and concise. Some spelling, punctuation, and/or grammar errors may be found. Language use could be improved for the academic setting.
2. Less Than Satisfactory
22.2 points
Clarity and conciseness in writing could be improved. Spelling, punctuation, and/or grammar errors distract from purpose and organization of the paper. Language use could be improved for the academic setting.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Writing is unclear and not concise. Spelling, punctuation, and/or grammar errors significantly distract from the purpose and organization of the paper. Language use is inappropriate for the academic setting.

Documentation of Sources
15 points
Criteria Description
Documentation of Sources (citations, footnotes, references, bibliography, etc., as appropriate to assignment and style)
5. Excellent
15 points
Sources are completely and correctly documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is free of error.
4. Good
13.05 points
Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is mostly correct.
3. Satisfactory
11.85 points
Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, although some formatting errors may be present.
2. Less Than Satisfactory
11.1 points
Documentation of sources is inconsistent or incorrect, as appropriate to assignment and style, with numerous formatting errors.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Sources are not documented.
Total
150 points

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