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The social work accreditation bodies in the North of Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have explicit requirements that social work training must incorporate ethics and values, with particular reference to codes of ethics developed by professional social work organisations.
There is international recognition of the importance of the principles of good practice in social work. In January 2001, the Council of Europe ratified a recommendation to ask member states to: "Support the development of codes of ethics in line with existing international instruments and require agencies to promote good practice through the integration of ethical codes in service delivery arrangements and the provision of working conditions consistent with ethical requirement."
For Further Information:
The Council of Europe Recommendation Rec. (2001) 1 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on social workers is available From the Comiittee Ministers area of the Website www.coe.int
International Federation of Social Workers. 1994. The Ethics of Social Work - Principles and Standards. Berne: IFSW.
Human rights is a related value component of social work practice. Both jurisdictions have ratified the United Nations International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and a number of other international and European human rights instruments.
Relevant contacts:
United Nations Human Rights web-page: www.un.org/rights/
For Further Information:
United Nations Centre for Human Rights. 1994. Human Rights and Social Work - professional training series No. 1. Geneva and New York: United Nations Centre for Human Rights.
The Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) requires social workers to register and to sign up to the NISCC Code of Practice for Social Care Workers. This same Code of Practice describes standards of professional practice and conduct required of employers of social care workers. The inter-relationship and synthesis between ethical practice in the application of the professional value base and professional competence, professional responsibility and accountability, is set out within the Framework Specification for the Degree in Social Work.
For Further Information:
NISCC / SSI, 2003. Northern Ireland Framework Specification for the Degree in Social Work. Belfast: Northern Ireland Social Care Council and Social Services Inspectorate, DHSSPS Web: www.niscc.info/publications/2003.htm
NISCC, 2002 Codes of Practice for Social Care Workers and Employers of Social Care Workers. Belfast: Northern Ireland Social Care Council - Web: www.niscc.info/publications/2002.htm
Northern Ireland Social Care Council Web: www.niscc.info
BASW Northern Ireland , Douglas House, 397 Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 3GP Telephone: (028) 9064 8873 Fax: (028) 9064 8874 / E-mail: n.ireland@basw.co.uk Web www.basw.co.uk
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