Professional ethical standards for social workers in Vietnam

Professional ethical standards for social workers in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet responded as follows:

1. What are professional ethical standards for social workers?

According to Clause 3, Article 2 of Circular 01/2017/TT-BLDTBXH, professional ethical standards for social workers are ethical standards that social workers must adhere to in the process of practicing social work and social relations with social work service users, colleagues, related organizations and individuals, and relationships at work.

2. Professional ethical standards for social workers in Vietnam

Professional ethical standards for social workers in Vietnam according to Articles 3, 4 and 5 of Circular 01/2017/TT-BLDTBXH are as follows:

* Adhering to the basic principles of social work:

- Respect and promote the right to choose and decide without discriminating against the values, beliefs, thoughts, and lives of the subjects or affecting the legitimate rights and interests of others.

- Promote full participation of subjects by helping them make their own decisions and solve problems that affect their lives.

- Focus on strengths, leverage the available resources of the audience to promote empowerment.

- Take responsibility for professional social work activities, ensuring that subjects are provided with appropriate and quality social work services.

- Promote social justice, ensure the fair and transparent supply of resources according to the needs of the target audience.

- Respect diversity, without discrimination on the basis of ability, age, sex, marital status, socio-economic status, color, race, subject's nationality, political views, religious beliefs, or health characteristics.

* Requirements on professional ethics:

- Need, thrift, integrity, and righteousness; not abuse relationships with subjects for personal gain; clearly define the boundaries between personal and professional life.

- Have enthusiasm, responsibility, initiative, and creativity in providing professional social work services to subjects.

- Patience, understanding, sharing, and concern for the object.

- Put the interests of the subject first is the most important thing in the process of social work professional activities.

- Take responsibility for their professional activities in accordance with the law.

- Maintain solidarity with colleagues; do not take advantage of, divide the relationship between colleagues.

- Take care of yourself and build a suitable image to ensure professional and effective social work service provision.

* Compliance with professional discipline:

- Comply with the laws, rules, and regulations of agencies and units. Perform professional social work activities within the scope of assigned tasks and must not refuse the subject's request to provide appropriate social work services.

- Keep confidentiality of information related to the object. In the case of information sharing, it must be done in accordance with the law or with the consent of the subject and the professional manager.

- Respect the subject's right to view records. In case of refusal, a record must be made clearly stating the reason for the object.

- Respect, share, empathize, and help colleagues in work and social relationships.

- Be willing to cooperate with partners, experts in the field of social work and other related fields.

- Use accurate and standard language and style in communication activities, communicating with colleagues and audiences.

- Only stop providing social work services when the subjects no longer need them. In cases of force majeure, appropriate solutions must be taken to ensure that social work services are provided continuously without affecting the interests of the subjects.

- Regularly study, improve knowledge, skills, and awareness of social work expertise, and meet the requirements of social work professional standards as prescribed by law.

- Have professional knowledge of social work, culture, customs, practices, and religion to serve the job.

- Be responsible and able to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams. Contribute and share experiences and knowledge for the interdisciplinary team to operate effectively.

- Have ability to consult colleagues and subjects to improve the quality and efficiency of social work service provision.

- Have ability to create relationships in society, prestige, and links, and introduce good experts and reputable organizations that best meet the needs of the target audience.

- Always love the profession and protect its reputation.

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