Value 4: Valuing Human Relationships

Context for Practice: Social workers maintain the best interests of service users as their primary professional obligation. Social workers view all people as unique and strive to show respect for service users’ traditions, history, experiences, perspective, and points of view. Social workers strive to cultivate positive professional supporting relationships with service users and are respectful, empathic, compassionate and non-judgemental. Social workers understand and apply an anti-racist and anti-oppression approach to their practice. Social workers value positive working relationships with colleagues and respect their contributions toward the well-being of service users.

Standards of Practice: Social workers shall ensure that people are at the centre of their relationships by:

4.1.1 showing compassion, respect, and being non-judgemental;

4.1.2 showing respect and value for service users’ experiences, perspectives, traditions, and points of view, and working in partnership with service users when planning services, providing interventions, and advocating on their behalf;

4.1.3 treating colleagues in their own and other professions with respect, integrity, and courtesy;

4.1.4 respecting the diversity and culture of colleagues in their own and other professions;

4.1.5 collaborating with colleagues in their own and other professions for a service user where such services meet the needs of the service user;

4.1.6 limiting consultations to those who possess knowledge, skills and expertise related to the subject of the consultation and within the confines of the law.

Context for Practice: Social workers strive to be self-aware and practise self-reflection by regularly examining their personal values, cultural beliefs, assumptions, and moral positions and considering how those influence their professional practice. Social workers strive to learn from experience and to think about their use of self in their practice. Social workers make efforts to be aware and to understand how their role and authority creates a power inequality in their professional relationships with service users. Social workers strive to understand and be aware of how supporting others may, at times, impact their own personal well-being. Social workers understand that some work environments can also have an impact on their own personal well-being. Social workers are knowledgeable about the risk factors related to burnout, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and secondary trauma. Social workers understand the importance of self-care and community care, and that they are most effective when it compliments their personal circumstances, preferences, and culture, and is practised regularly. Social workers seek to engage in community-care and self-care strategies that meet their needs. Social workers actively seek out supervision, consultation or mentoring to gain insights into their practice, as well as guidance, direction, coaching and support when providing services.

Standards of Practice: Social workers shall work toward strengthening their social work practice and personal well-being by:

4.2.1. continuously engaging in self-reflection and critically examining how their own beliefs, biases, unconscious biases, attitudes, and professional role influence their practice;

4.2.2 being aware that their role and practices may reinforce power inequality that may impact the professional relationship with service users;

4.2.3 developing awareness of their own personal beliefs or moral positions and ensuring they do not take precedence over a service user’s rights and best interest;

4.2.4 avoiding imposing their personal values, views, and preferences onto service users;

4.2.5 participating in supervision, consultation, or other relevant supports available to strengthen their self-reflection practise, self-care, and non-judgemental approach;

4.2.6 practising community-care and self-care that best suit their needs, preferences, personal circumstances, culture, and traditions, and seeking professional services to address moral distress, vicarious trauma, burnout, and compassion fatigue when necessary.

In addition, social workers new or returning to the profession shall:

4.2.7 complete the Candidacy Mentorship Program (CMP) provided by the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers.

Context of Practice: Social workers have an ethical obligation to ensure the continuity and accessibility of professional services for their service users. This obligation persists throughout the course of service delivery and during transitions or terminations of the professional relationship. Social workers must prioritize the service user’s well-being by making every reasonable effort to facilitate ongoing care, even when circumstances require the relationship to end.

Standards of Practice: Social workers shall ensure continuity of care by:

4.3.1 continuing to provide the opportunity for a service user to receive professional services until:

• service goals have been met.
• it is reasonably clear to the social worker or to the service user that professional services are not achieving the agreed upon purpose.
• professional services are no longer required.
• the service user has had a reasonable opportunity to arrange to receive professional services from another social worker or suitable professional.
• a conflictual dual/multiple role relationship exists or arises.
• the contracted service period has ended.
• the service user is transferred to another social worker.
• the social worker leaves the place of employment.
• a service user chooses not to continue the service.

4.3.2 giving reasonable notice to the service user when the social worker anticipates the termination of services;

4.3.3 providing referrals as needed or upon the request of the service user;

4.3.4 not terminating a professional relationship for the purpose of entering into a personal or business relationship with a service user.