Legal or regulatory requirement in my practice

How we make decisions within various fields of practice is hugely influenced by ‘Codes of Ethics’ - or legal/regulatory requirements. As Collste (2012) observes, these regulate for example,

1. relations between teacher and pupil, doctor and patient, salesmen and customer. Such relations generate professional moral norms, like honesty, fidelity, care and safety.
2. Relations to workmates. Almost all employees have workmates and colleagues. The relation between workmates generates professional moral norms of loyalty and solidarity.
3. Relations to employers (p.12)

Unitec has a clear Code of Ethics which regulates the 3 kinds of relationships outlined above. Important aspects of this CoE are ethical conduct and integrity. As stated in the document,

Unitec is a complex organisation comprising a diversity of populations which have different

relationships to one another. These may be relations of power and/or of status. It is essential in such an organisation that all members recognise and respect not only their own rights and responsibilities, but also the rights and responsibilities of other members of the community and those of Unitec itself (p. 1).

Social Work Registration Board

The field of social practice is also regulated by the Social Work Registration Board (SWRB). The SWRB (and it Code of Conduct) recognises core competencies that reflect practice standards accepted in social practice in New Zealand. These include:

Competence to practice social work with Maori Competence to practise social work with different ethnic and cultural groups in Aotearoa New Zealand Competence to work respectfully and inclusively with diversity and difference in practice Competence to promote the principles of human rights and social and economic justice Competence to engage in practice which promotes social change Competence to understand and articulate social work theories, indigenous practice knowledge Competence to apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments Competence to promote empowerment of people and communities to enable positive change Competence to practice within legal and ethical boundaries of the social work profession Represents the social work profession with integrity and professionalism