ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Identify an ethical dilemma inherent within or potentially found within your SW 445 practicum setting or a previous practicum setting (or a social work agency setting that you are familiar with). You must identify a dilemma that would be/is plausible for social workers to encounter in daily practice. Write a 2+/- page summary of the dilemma; be sure to provide essential background information as well as a discussion of the dilemma itself. Describe both sides of the dilemma (e.g., what are the competing concepts presented, making this an ethical dilemma? Are there competing standards from your Code of Ethics that complicate this dilemma? How do you explain this as ethical dilemma vs a “practice issue?”) This should be written in third person, for a professional audience – as if you are presenting it to a panel of peers to discuss. Provide a copy of this dilemma to your instructor by date indicated in syllabus.
You may certainly move into hypothetical situations and of course you may then want to pose your dilemma in an agency other than your practicum agency — that’s fine.
ALSO: You may choose to work in a small group to come up with an ethical dilemma BUT you do not have to. Groups may not be larger than 3 and only one group member needs to submit the written dilemma. All students in the group will receive the same grade. Put everyone’s names on the submission if you choose to work in a group.THE INSTRUCTOR WILL NOT ASSIGN GROUPS – if you want to work in a group, broker that on your own. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WORK IN A GROUP.
Your dilemma must include the following:
1) An overview of the setting in which the dilemma is encountered — describe the setting and the context/background for the dilemma to be easily understood.
2) A presentation of the dilemma itself – describe/explain why this is an ethical dilemma — what are the competing concepts presented that make this a true dilemma? Explain the possible outcomes pending different courses of action. Contextualize this in terms of the code of ethics, moral decision making frameworks (see review of concepts in Canvas), anything that helps you to demonstrate that you understand the dilemma.
3) Explain how this is indeed a dilemma vs a practice issue
4) A discussion of how a dilemma like this might be solved in practice.
***Remember, every dilemma may be shared with the class. YOU MUST remove identifying information.***
