You are required to participate in two online group discussions. The group discussions are intended to replicate a face to face tutorial to develop student knowledge of ethical practice and skills essential for social work practice. The activities will strengthen your capacity to participate in an informative discussion for ethical decision making and provide constructive feedback to peers. These activities are to be viewed as learning opportunities rather than peer evaluation.

Instructions

For each group discussion topic, you are required to complete a written online discussion topic response along with a response to another student's discussion post, and a short reflection to be posted on Moodle by the due date for each respective topic. The group discussion topic, that includes a case study and questions, are located under Assessment 1 on the unit Moodle site. 

Your responses should:

• Identify and analyse ethical content inherent to the case study and refer to relevant unit and independent literature.
• Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the relevant core ethical principles of social work practice referring to the AASW Code of Ethics.
• Demonstrate an ability to interact and discuss important issues relating to ethics in a human service context.
• Utilise reflective practice for the consideration of other perspectives, identification of the values, beliefs and assumptions influencing ethical decision making, and the articulation of insights gained for future practice.

What's involved?

In weeks 2 and 5 you will post a 500 word written online response to a group discussion topic, make a considered response to another student's submission, and post a 300 word short reflection. You will be allocated to a small group for each discussion topic.

The two group discussion topics will be assessed (15% each). A detailed schedule of dates, discussion topics and requirements for each topic will be provided under the Assessment 1 - Group Discussion heading on Moodle.

To pass this assessment you are required to post a response to the topic, respond to another student's discussion post, and provide a short reflection to both group discussion topics.

Suitable references include peer-reviewed journal articles as well as textbooks and credible websites. When sourcing information, consider the 5 elements of a quality reference: currency, authority, relevance, objectivity, and coverage. Grey literature sourced from the internet must be from reputable websites such as from government, university, or peak national bodies: for example, the Australian Association of Social Workers. You are expected to have completed the core readings before participating in the group discussion and your discussion should make reference to the core readings and be properly cited/referenced (Harvard). Additionally, you are encouraged to undertake independent reading on the topic.

Requirements

Word limit

• 500 words maximum for the online response to the group discussion topic.
• No word limit for response to a student.
• 300 words maximum for online reflective practice post.

You must remain within 10% of the word limit. The word count is considered from the first word to the last word of the student post. It excludes the reference list. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.

Penalties will apply for late submissions as per CQUniversity late submission procedure.

• Important note: Each group discussion is weighted 10% and will be marked out of 10.   Assessment Criteria			Grade
  	HD (85-100)	D (75-84)	C (65-74)	P (50=64)	F (0-49)
  Identifies and analyses ethical content inherent to the case study and refers to relevant unit and independent literature. (  /4 Marks)	Excellent understanding and advanced ethical analysis demonstrated utilising a range of relevant sources.	Very good understanding and ethical analysis demonstrated utilising relevant sources.	Good understanding and ethical analysis demonstrated utilising relevant sources.	Adequate or basic understanding and ethical analysis demonstrated utilising relevant sources.	Inadequate or inappropriate understanding and ethical analysis and insufficient or inappropriate utilisation of sources.
  Identifies and demonstrates understanding of the core ethical principles of social work of social work practice referring tot he AASW Code of Ethics (2020). ( /4 Marks)	Advanced understanding of core professional ethical principles relevant to the scenario demonstrated.	Very good understanding of the core professional ethical principles relevant to the scenario demonstrated.	Good analysis understanding of the ore professional ethical principles relevant to the scenario demonstrated.	Adequate or basic understanding of core professional ethical principles relevant to the scenario demonstrated.	Inadequate or inappropriate understanding of the core ethical principles relevant to the scenario demonstrated.
  Demonstrates an ability to interact and discuss important issues relating to ethics in a human services context.       ( /2 Marks)	Excellent ability to interact and discuss ethical issues.	Very good ability to interact and discuss ethical issues.	Good ability to interact and discuss ethical issues.	Adequate or basic ability to interact and discuss ethical issues.	Inadequate or inappropriate ability to interact and discuss ethical issues.
  Engages in reflective practice for the consideration of other perspectives, identification of the values, beliefs and assumptions influencing ethical decision making, and the articulation of insights gained for future practice. (  /3 Marks)	Advanced reflective practice demonstrated.	Very good reflective practice demonstrated.	Good  reflective practice demonstrated.	Adequate or basic reflective practice demonstrated.	Inadequate or inappropriate reflective practice demonstrated.
  Demonstrates synthesis and integration of literature within postings, clear expression and grammar, appropriate referencing (Harvard), and citation, with correct spelling (Macquarie) and punctuation.     ( /2 Marks)	Excellent synthesis and argument.  Excellent writing and extensive referencing.	Very good synthesis and argument.  Very good writing and comprehensive referencing.	Good synthesis and argument.  Good writing and good referencing.	Adequate or basic synthesis and argument.  Adequate writing or referencing.	Inaccurate or limited synthesis or argument.  Inadequate writing and referencing.

Your task is to identify a field of practice (mental health, child protection, youth justice/work, health, disability, aged care, etc) and explore two ethical dilemmas that a social worker/human services worker would commonly encounter in that area, giving consideration to the AASW (2020) Code of Ethics. Additionally, you are required to identify how you might resolve the ethical dilemmas that you may encounter. Within your chosen field of practice, you are also required to analyse the ethical issues that may present when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and communities and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The essay must make reference to the literature. You are expected to refer to the unit readings and undertake independent reading.

Instructions

With reference to the chosen field of practice, produce a written essay that addresses the following:

• Identifies two ethical dilemmas a social worker/human service worker would commonly experience in the chosen field of practice, making reference to the literature relevant to this assignment topic.
• Identifies how the identified ethical dilemmas can be resolved, making reference to the relevant literature.
• Analyses the ethical elements of cultural competence when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in this chosen field of practice.
• Identifies the core ethical principles of social work practice making reference to the AASW Code of Ethics (2020).
• Demonstrates synthesis and integration of literature, strength and logic of the argument, correct spelling (Macquarie) and punctuation, with appropriate citation and referencing (Harvard). Remains within the word limit.

Length

• 1000-1500 words (excluding references and appendices). The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, and reference list. It includes in-text references and direct quotations. You must remain within 10% of the word limit (a maximum of 1% of the mark will be deducted for every 100 words over or under this range).

Literature and references

In this assessment use at least 7 relevant references to support your discussion. Suitable references include peer-reviewed journal articles as well as textbooks and credible websites. When sourcing information, consider the 5 elements of a quality reference: currency, authority, relevance, objectivity, and coverage. Grey literature sourced from the internet must be from reputable websites such as government, university, or peak national bodies: the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Requirements

• Use a conventional and legible size 12 font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, with 1.5 line spacing and 2.54cm page margins (standard pre-set margin in Microsoft Word)
• Include page numbers on each page in a footer.
• Write in the third-person perspective.
• Use formal academic language.
• Use the Harvard referencing style. The CQUniversity Academic Learning Centre has an online Harvard Referencing Style Guide.
• Penalties will apply for late submissions as per CQUniversity assessment procedure.

This assessment requires you to analyse an ethical dilemma in social work practice. You will explore the complex ethical dilemmas that emerge when political, social and economic context impacts on client populations and social work practice. Ethical problem solving is, therefore, an important professional requirement for social work practice.

Instructions

A written essay that addresses the ethical dilemma (Vignette) outlined on Moodle under Assessment 3 - Written Assessment.

Your discussion needs to address the following:

• For each of the following courses of actions listed below, provide a rationale for selecting and rejecting the action in Mrs Peterson's case.
• Refer to the AASW Code of Ethics and identify the relevant ethical principles, values and responsibilities that apply to the scenario and courses of action.
• Based on the options below or a different course of action you have considered, what course of action would you favour? (Be sure to explain and provide an ethical justification, reflection and evaluation for your decision)
• Explain the cultural considerations you would make in your decision-making process for each course of action if Mrs Peterson identified as an Aboriginal person.
• You are required to refer to the literature relevant to this assignment's topic.

The proposed courses of action include:

1. The social worker decides to respect the principles of confidentiality and self-determination and do nothing.
2. The social worker assesses for involuntary placement due to Mrs Peterson's impaired judgment about her current life circumstances.
3. The social worker decides that the least restrictive route is to contact Mrs Peterson's daughter, Janice, to check on Mrs Peterson over the weekend.
4. The social worker explains to Mrs Peterson that they are not convinced she can attend to her needs and presents her with the options based on their assessment.

Length

• 2000 words (excluding references and appendices). The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, and reference list. It includes in-text references and direct quotations. You must remain within 10% of the word limit.

Literature and references

In this assessment use at least 8 contemporary references to support your discussion. You may also use seminal scholarly literature where relevant. Suitable references include peer-reviewed journal articles as well as textbooks and credible websites. When sourcing information, consider the 5 elements of a quality reference: currency, authority, relevance, objectivity, and coverage. Grey literature sourced from the internet must be from reputable websites such as from government, university, or peak national bodies: for example, the Australian Association of Social Workers.