Values and Ethics in Social Work

What are my values? What are the values of others around me? What are the values and ethics of the social work profession?

An awareness of our own ethical assumptions, and how these inform our practice, is crucial for the student social worker.

The Second Edition of this bestselling book is now split into two parts. Part I considers the foundations of every person′s values and provides a background to moral philosophy. Part II examines key ethical issues and how they determine practice, such as using power, allocating resources, treating others with respect and celebrating diversity.

For the Second Edition, two new chapters have been added to the book, on:

• The political dimension in ethical decision making
• Realism as a guiding ethical principle

Written in a uniquely straightforward style, everyday social work practice is the key focus throughout. Every chapter includes interactive exercises and case studies, challenging students to reflect on a range of practical dilemmas.

Chris Beckett studied Psychology at Bristol University and qualified as a social worker at Bangor, North Wales, in 1980, going on to work for eighteen years as a social worker and social work manager, and then for fifteen years as a social work lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University and the University of East Anglia. He has had a parallel career for some time as a writer of fiction and is now a full-time writer. His novel, Dark Eden was the winner of the Arthur C. Clarke award for 2012.