The 6 Core Values of Clinical Social Work

The six core values of clinical social work are service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. These values are essential to the provision of high-quality health care. Clinical social workers use their core values to provide support, advocacy, and counseling to patients and their families.

The six core values of clinical social work are:

1. Service: Clinical social workers are committed to serving others and working to improve the lives of those in need.
2. Social justice: Clinical social workers believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their circumstances. They work to advocate for social justice and eliminate discrimination and oppression.
3. Dignity and worth of the person: Clinical social workers believe that all people have inherent worth and dignity, regardless of their past or present circumstances. They treat each client with respect and compassion.
4. Importance of human relationships: Clinical social workers believe that human relationships are essential to our well-being. They work to strengthen relationships between individuals, families, and communities.
5. Integrity: Clinical social workers are honest and trustworthy. They act in accordance with their professional values and ethics.
6. Competence: Clinical social workers are committed to lifelong learning and professional development. They strive to provide the highest quality of care to their clients.

How the Six Core Values Apply to Health Care

The six core values of clinical social work are all relevant to the field of health care. For example:

• Service: Clinical social workers in health care settings provide a variety of services, such as counseling, case management, and discharge planning. They work to improve the quality of life for patients and their families.
• Social justice: Clinical social workers in health care settings advocate for patients who are marginalized or underserved. They work to ensure that all patients have access to quality care.
• Dignity and worth of the person: Clinical social workers in health care settings treat all patients with respect and compassion, regardless of their diagnosis or social status. They help patients feel valued and respected.
• Importance of human relationships: Clinical social workers in health care settings help patients build and maintain strong relationships with their families, friends, and healthcare providers. They understand that strong relationships are essential to recovery and well-being.
• Integrity: Clinical social workers in health care settings are honest and trustworthy. They keep patient information confidential and act in accordance with their professional values and ethics.
• Competence: Clinical social workers in health care settings are committed to lifelong learning and professional development. They stay up-to-date on the latest research and treatment methods.

Clinical social workers play an important role in the field of health care. They use their core values to provide high-quality care to patients and their families.

Here are some specific examples of how the six core values of clinical social work apply to health care:

• A clinical social worker working in a hospital may provide counseling to a patient who is coping with a new diagnosis of cancer. The social worker would use the value of service to help the patient understand their diagnosis and treatment options, and the value of social justice to advocate for the patient's rights.
• A clinical social worker working in a community health center may provide case management services to a family with a child who has a chronic illness. The social worker would use the value of human relationships to help the family connect with resources in the community and the value of competence to stay up-to-date on the latest research on the child's illness.
• A clinical social worker working in a school may advocate for the rights of a student who is being bullied. The social worker would use the value of dignity and worth of the person to ensure that the student is treated with respect and the value of integrity to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct.

These are just a few examples of how the six core values of clinical social work apply to health care. Clinical social workers play a vital role in the health care system, and they use their core values to guide their work every day.