Federation of Social Workers [IFSW], 2017 p.1). As outlined in the AASW Code of Ethics (2010), social work practice is to be guided by the values of respect for persons, social justice and professional integrity. Along with these, the field of child protection is underpinned by child's rights and practices that are based on what is 'in the best interest of the child' (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2017). This is a human rights principle that was adopted from the United National Convention on the Rights of the Child and considered the primary consideration of all decisions and actions around their development and protection (O'connor, Wilson, Setterlund, & Hughes, 2008). However, within the complexity of the child protection field, social workers are often confronted with competing demands and priorities of all the aforementioned components in achieving their legal and professional duties (Dickson, 2009). Looking at child protection through the lens of the AASW Code of Ethics, some of the ethical issues around self-determination, confidentiality, and child removal will be examined for the potential ethical dilemmas they can cause social workers in the field. Child protection in Australia is a term used to describe the policy regulations and practice frameworks that are implemented by each state to respond to the significant harm of children, through anticipating the risk of child maltreatment and acting to prevent it (Reimer, 2016). The maltreatment of children is defined by Price-Robertson, Bromfield & Richardson (2015) as any "non-accidental behaviour by parents, caregivers, other adults or older adolescents that is outside the norms of conduct and entails a substantial risk of causing physical or emotional harm to a child or young person" (p.1). This can be through acts of commission or omission, that is, either abuse or neglect, whether the behaviour is intentional or not. Harm caused from physical, sexual, emotional abuse, exposure to violence, or from failure to provide basic physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual needs, can result in a range of issues including difficulty forming relationships, suicidal or self-harming behaviours, mental health disorders, cognitive and developmental delays, drug and alcohol abuse, aggressive, violent or criminal behaviours and permanent physical injuries or death (Larcher, 2007). Child protection work
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To be able to assess and respond professionally, social workers require a depth of understanding of neglect and abuse in relation to "poverty, domestic violence, drug and alcohol misuse, disability, colonisation and the ongoing impacts of the Stolen Generation, homelessness, education, health and mental health" issues (AASW, 2013, p.3). Along with this, the legislation and organisational requirements they are obliged to follow, the AASW developed Practice Standards that outline the expectations of the social worker's role in accordance to the AASW and the practice responsibilities and requirements of the profession in respect of the social and political environment that found child wellbeing and protection practices (AASW Practice Standards, 2013). In the face of often complex, changing and unpredictable situations, contexts or issues such as these, decisions to act in professional practice often are founded on subjective judgements within relevant frameworks (Reimer, 2016). To provide less subjective decisions the AASW developed a Code of Ethics, which lies at the heart of all their policy and documentation (Gallagher, 2017). This document provides the foundational values and ethical responsibilities and obligations that social workers are expected to adhere to in their practice (AASW Practice Standards,
To be able to assess and respond professionally, social workers require a depth of understanding of neglect and abuse in relation to "poverty, domestic violence, drug and alcohol misuse, disability, colonisation and the ongoing impacts of the Stolen Generation, homelessness, education, health and mental health" issues (AASW, 2013, p.3). Along with this, the legislation and organisational requirements they are obliged to follow, the AASW developed Practice Standards that outline the expectations of the social worker's role in accordance to the AASW and the practice responsibilities and requirements of the profession in respect of the social and political environment that found child wellbeing and protection practices (AASW Practice Standards, 2013). In the face of often complex, changing and unpredictable situations, contexts or issues such as these, decisions to act in professional practice often are founded on subjective judgements within relevant frameworks (Reimer, 2016). To provide less subjective decisions the AASW developed a Code of Ethics, which lies at the heart of all their policy and documentation (Gallagher, 2017). This document provides the foundational values and ethical responsibilities and obligations that social workers are expected to adhere to in their practice (AASW Practice Standards,