The role of registration in ensuring ethical practice

Abstract

This article compares the processes of registration of social workers in the UK and New Zealand. Its findings are that registration is linked, not to the development of codes of ethics, but to regulation based on codes of conduct. This leads to a discussion of the implications for ethical practice

On the evidence for viruses in social work systems: law, ethics and practice

“…However, challenging organisational decision-making, and the managers whose attitudes are highly influential on whether procedures can be scrutinised , will remain a daunting task. Thus, the evidence may suggest that social work should consider reinforcing the moral responsibility of practitioners and managers (Orme & Rennie, 2006) and the core principles of humanity and social justice. It may suggest also making explicit in policy and for individual practice service users' legal entitlements.…”

“…France (1996) notes that codes of practice and values have had limited success in guaranteeing how professionals will undertake their ethical responsibilities, especially when they are ill-defined and lacking in sanctions. Orme and Rennie (2006) stress that codes do not guarantee social work values or ethical behaviour. Since social workers practise in hierarchical organisations and also alongside other professionals, it may also prove difficult to pinpoint responsibility.…”

Blurring Private–Professional Boundaries: Does it Matter? Issues in Researching Social Work Students' Perceptions about Professional Regulation

“…In most parts of the United States and Canada registration is compulsory for practitioners who hold an accredited master's degree*/ and in some cases the bachelor's degree*/ in social work (Edwards et al 2006). Italy has a compulsory register (Fargion 2008), while in New Zealand registration is on a voluntary basis (Orme & Rennie 2006). Social workers in Australia are not registered, although the Australian Association of Social Workers encourages self-regulation (Kent 2006).…”

Global Ethics for Social Work: Problems and Possibilities—Papers from theEthics & Social WelfareSymposium, Durban, July 2008

“…However, current trends indicate that practitioners are under pressure to act consistently and predictably, as has been highlighted by recent work on registration of social workers (Orme and Rennie, 2006). (adopted 2004, published 2005) suggested that the formulation of a code of ethics was a necessary adjunct to registration.…”

“…However in a comparison of two countries it was identified that codes of conduct or codes of practice rather than codes of ethics accompanied the introduction of registration. This was seen as a defensive process; part of a managerialist approach associated with the technicalisation of the social work profession (Orme and Rennie, 2006 To facilitate and enable practitioners to do this, as educators we have to go beyond teaching moral theories (Gray, 1995), or 'introducing' students to an already formulated set of ethical principles. The complexity of this task has been highlighted by feminist critiques of the concept of care.…”