ABSTRACT

This chapter presents a case study of a caseworker which is based on a real-life scenario experienced by one of the authors. Working for two bosses can create real problems, particularly when different values are being employed to inform decision-making. The caseworker felt torn between conflicting loyalties and duties but he appeared to have no basis from which to make a decision. In such situations a code of ethics is invaluable for providing guidance as to the best course of action to pursue. Traditionally, codes of ethics have been the key tool for spelling out what values a profession has. There is considerable evidence that social work codes, or rather misuse of them, can be dangerous, and inadvertently may be the cause of unethical actions. One of the greatest challenges to codes of ethics comes from workplace and licensing codes of conduct to guide and inform employees and practitioners.