How personal values can influence your practice
Learning Objectives
After considering this resource, you should understand how personal values can influence practice.
Thompson and Thompson (2008, p.128) define 'values' as '...what we hold dear - literally those things we value. Our value base is that set of principles which underpins what we think, what we do, what we refuse to do and so on.' A personal value base is unlikely to be exactly the same as someone else's, and in social work, may not even be the same as the professional value base sit alongside each other. They will inevitably influence your practice however, which means you need to be aware of how your personal values and the professional value base sits alongside each other.
In the following case study, Shelley talks about working with a service user and reflects on whether she would have acted differently towards him if his behaviour had conflicted with her personal values.
Reflective Questions
- Consider different personal values you find important. How do these relate to social work practice?
- Consider your personal values alongside the professional value base. Are there any areas of conflict?
- Suppose Alec had been involved in criminal activity, something Shelley disapproves of. If you were Shelley, how would you advise how she can reconcile her personal and professional values so Alec still received effective support?
- How can values influence practice?
Reference:
N Thompson and S Thompson (2008) The Social Work Companion. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.