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Social Work vocabulary · Ethics and Confidentiality

Code of ethics

Meaning in social work, with examples

nounCore term

In social work, code of ethics means: A written set of values and principles that guides how members of a profession should behave and make decisions.

In Turkish: etik kodu, meslek etiği ilkeleri, etik ilkeler

How it is used

Social work codes usually stress human dignity, social justice, integrity and competence. Well-known examples are the IFSW global statement of ethical principles and the NASW Code of Ethics in the US. Workers follow, breach or refer to the code.

Example sentences

  1. Under our code of ethics, we must challenge discrimination when we see it.

  2. The code of ethics doesn't give easy answers, but it helps us think a dilemma through.

Common collocations

  • follow the code of ethics
  • breach the code of ethics
  • professional code of ethics
  • ethical dilemma
  • confidentialityThe duty to keep information about clients private and to share it only with their consent or when there is a clear professional or legal reason.
  • social justiceThe idea that everyone should have fair access to rights, resources and opportunities, and that unfair structures in society should be changed.
  • self-determinationA person's right to make their own choices and decisions about their life, even when others might disagree with them.
  • conflict of interestA situation in which a worker's personal interests or relationships could affect, or seem to affect, their professional judgement.

More terms: Ethics and Confidentiality

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