Reviewing Ethics Complaint in Counselling

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Introduction

This report aims to demonstrate the protection of the client’s interests by describing its problems and the assistance needed. As Jackson (2020) points out, the social work profession is based on protecting human rights, social justice, and equality. Moreover, social workers are required not to cause harm to their clients during the entire working period and after it. However, April Abry’s experience with JOBS Inc. social workers does not reflect a commitment to values and principles. This report summarizes the legal, ethical, professional, and practical issues that need to be addressed in the April case. In addition, he suggests areas to collect additional information for reaching a verdict and recommends ways to help the client achieve optimal wellness.

Legal Issues

After serving her sentence of five months, April is a former convict on parole. She was charged with drug abuse for prescription drug abuse, culminating in her arthritis condition causing her great pain. Many people with a criminal record have difficulty applying for a job. It is understood that their reintegration into society becomes difficult, and the recidivism rate is high. Therefore, it is essential to determine the type of crime with which the client is accused to assess his suitability for specific job functions. There are three main categories of crime: felonies, misdemeanors, and misdemeanors (Martin, 2022). Violations and misdemeanors carry small charges, such as April’s.

Notably, April’s arthritis limits the types of work she can do. However, the Vulnerable Groups Protection Act 2006 requires certain groups of people, such as pedophiles and ex-convicts, not to work with children or other vulnerable groups (Bramley et al., 2019). It is possible that the reason for all the job applications by April has to do with her conviction for drug abuse. Therefore, it is important to re-evaluate its capabilities and determine if there are other vacancies.

Furthermore, oh judgment of April resulted in her losing custody of her children, who currently live with her mother. She visits her children daily but wants full charge since she is their mother. However, she may not be granted full custody because she is financially unable to provide for them and has not completed probation. The problem is that children are at risk of becoming victims of sexual crimes because their father sends sexually explicit messages to them. In Australia, the law requires mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) (Krone et al., 2020). Therefore, it is important to report suspected sexual abuse to minors.

Ethical Inquiries

Social workers and other helping professionals must protect their clients’ information. For example, there should be two-factor authentication to extract data and restrict access to only those employees who need the information to perform their duties (AASW, 2022). That is, only the employee who deals with their case can request the client’s personal information. However, April states that she received repeated calls from a social worker who introduced herself as Beatrice and did not know who had her files. April has the right to keep her confidential information out of the sight of every employee of JOBS Inc.

JOBS Inc is funded because all employees providing personal support services directly to clients are social workers. According to a report by JOBS Inc., Xavier worked as a social worker without a degree; he took some short training courses and got a certificate. However, there is controversy about whether this is acceptable for such a delicate career.

April, JOBS Inc client says she wants to work in social work with minors. Every social worker in Australia must have a blue card as a checkpoint for dealing with minors. Based on this, the question arises of April’s ability to successfully pass the selection process for work in the social sphere since she has a criminal record and is still on parole.

Another ethical issue concerns the deceit and false promises made by April’s JOBS Inc. social workers. For example, Xavier gave April hope by telling her that it is possible to get a job as a social worker without an academic qualification. In addition, he promised her that JOB Inc. would provide disability assistance and housing support that she did not receive. Xavier pledged to her that he would buy her groceries to help but then went on vacation without informing her that he would no longer be able to work as her social worker. April has felt betrayed and is experiencing emotional stress, which is harm done to a client against social work principles.

Professional Issues

It is essential for social workers to always behave professionally with clients. However, employees of JOBS Inc. needed to improve their presentation style, showing the wrong approach to communication. For example, transferring a client’s file without contact is a privacy issue, as implied in AASW (2022), and a lack of professionalism. Moreover, April called Xavier occasionally, but he never picked up the phone and rarely answered the messages left. Similarly, Beatrix, who explained that she is a social worker and can offer help, does not appear to be genuinely interested in her well-being, as social workers are expected to be (Fielder, 2020). It is understood that the conduct of JOBS Inc. caused stress to an already ill client and demonstrated a lack of empathy and unprofessionalism.

Practical Issues

April has severe arthritis in her knees and, at one time, abused drugs prescribed to her for medical reasons. The status of her illness is so intense that it causes her to be released from prison early, on parole. In this regard, JOBS Inc.’s attention should be paid to the client’s health status both now and shortly since her performance directly depends on her condition.

Arthritis and Ability to Work

April began abusing prescription drugs due to her constant pain, so working through potential relapses in the future and keeping the client productive is essential. In the later period of arthritis, joint deformity occurs without adequate treatment. Pain and impaired movement do not allow the patient to make even the simplest movements associated with self-care. In this regard, April cannot have heavy physical activity, and JOBS Inc. must find a job suitable for her illness. Successful treatment aims to prevent future complications associated with the disease and/or help the patient manage it (Kennedy et al., 2016). The goal is to allow the patient to live as comfortably as possible with her condition while still having her relieve pain and provide complete treatment.

Preventing Potential Abuse

Psychotherapy, or talking therapy, is a significant part of prescription drug abuse treatment. Therapy can address the mental health and relationship problems that contribute to addiction. It also provides psychological education about addiction and how to prevent its recurrence. A primary care physician or mental health professional may also recommend peer support groups, which can be a valuable resource for those struggling with addiction.

Effective Arthritis Pain Management

The client should not self-medicate or take painkillers; one needs to see a doctor. Heat and cold therapy are one of the easiest ways to relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, such as stiffness, swelling, and pain (Mohanty, 2022). Studies have also shown that patients treated with acupuncture for arthritis had an improved quality of life (Mohanty, 2022). April’s pain reduction and general improvement will allow her to expand her work areas and increase her chances of getting a job.

Clearance of a Criminal Record

April wants to work in the social field with minors, but according to the law, as stated earlier, this is not possible due to her criminal record. It is common knowledge that service workers face material rights in customers’ lives (Kennedy et al., 2016). Employees may face criminal law and discrimination law when, for example, JOBS Inc., they are not hired not on legal grounds but simply because of a criminal record. April asks if she can vacate her criminal record through the company in her application. However, under the Criminal Records Act 1991 (NSW), a criminal record in Australia can be deleted if the no-crime period for certain criminal offenses is completed (Criminal records, 2020). The criminal record will be considered served and will no longer form part of the person’s criminal record.

Laptop Payment

JOBS Inc. policies and procedures state that employees should access customer data only for purposes necessary to provide support and for no other reason. When Xavier went on vacation, JOBS Inc. discovered that he regularly transferred amounts from the JOBS Inc account to other external reports. According to April’s statement, one of these amounts was transferred to the personal account of a JOBS Inc client to reimburse the cost of a laptop, which she needed to apply for a job and continue working. Xavier, by company policy, obtained access to the client’s data to provide support. However, this information was not registered in the system and was stored by various file protocols.

Client Security

An essential role for counselors is to help clients become self-protective. Information can be a powerful tool; clients will benefit from knowing what programs, services, and benefits are available to them and their children. They can best access such benefits if they can defend their interests. The social worker must maintain up-to-date information on the various programs and services available to clients at the federal, provincial, and local levels (Kennedy et al., 2016). A cost-of-living support package has been introduced for 2022 that includes one-off payments to those receiving income-related benefits, the disabled, and retirees (Budget, 2022). It will allow April to maintain a general standard of living and pay her rent.

Additional Information

Decisions in social services are made in multiple and interactive contexts, considering the presence of global and national interests and heightened sensitivity to international political opinion. In order to maintain the safety of both client and employee, all JOBS Inc social organization meetings must take place only at JOBS Inc offices or in public areas where confidentiality can be maintained. April reveals that Xavier sometimes came to her house and brought food, which is a direct violation and puts both the client and the company at risk.

Due to April’s concerns about disclosing personal data, it is necessary to identify the social worker overseeing the client’s case. According to April’s letter, after Xavier went on an extended vacation, the client received several calls from a person who claimed to be a JOBS Inc. social worker. In order to maintain the safety of the client, it is necessary to establish and confirm the identity of a potential stalker.

Recommendations

April has been diagnosed with arthritis, so finding a job that provides you with the best work environment for this health condition may be a priority. Since the woman is a client of JOBS Inc., the company must find the right job for her, taking into account April’s existing criminal record. In such a case, a job with shorter hours or one that allows working from home can help to stay productive. In addition, low physical activity is essential: work that requires minimal physical exertion can help relieve arthritis pain. For example, writing with a swivel chair can provide greater comfort and productivity.

A suitable job option may be a customer service operator. Customer service representatives answer customer phone calls and emails, handle complaints and orders, and provide information about the company’s products and services. As a customer service rep, one can sit at a desk and often stand and stretch while working. In addition, sometimes it is also possible to work from home for this position.

Confidentiality

Failure to comply with the policy on non-disclosure of customers’ data may result in criminal liability for the employee and the entire company. For prevention and prevention, punishments should be introduced within the organization; compliance with codes of ethics is important. The company can also promise that the data will be deleted as soon as they are no longer needed for the original purpose for which they were collected or are no longer relevant. When working with personal data, the requirements for security and confidentiality are always observed. In the case of April Abry, it is necessary to establish whether there was a leak or whether a JOBS Inc. employee contacted the client. In addition, the previous supervisor, Xavier, needs to be checked for April’s personal information.

Disease Prevention

Australia has a wide range of social support services to help people through their time of need. Services are provided by government and non-government organizations, professionals, and volunteers. According to the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), support can be counseling, advocacy, social action, or community participation and development (Westfall, 2019). Social Workers JOBS Inc. can help April get the information she needs about medical support for her arthritis.

Restrictions Regarding Communication Between Children and Ex-Husband

According to April’s statement, she is concerned that her ex-husband is sending sexually explicit messages to their children. Due to April’s imprisonment, she cannot get her children back at the moment, and her mother looks after them. Reporting a crime against children is essential so law enforcement agencies can take action.

Conclusion

The report is a detailed description of the client’s problems and gives recommendations for providing assistance to protect the client’s interests. The report summarizes the legal, ethical, professional, and practical issues that need to be addressed in the April case. In conclusion, recommendations are provided on what needs to be done in order to help the client effectively.

References

AASW: Australian Association of Social Workers. (2022). Australian Association of Social Workers: Privacy Policy (6406). Web.

Bramley, S., Norrie, C., & Manthorpe, J. (2019). Current practices and the potential for individuals with criminal records to gain qualifications or employment within social work: A scoping review. Social Work Education, 40(4), 552-568. Web.

Budget and additional estimates statements. Department of Social Services, Australian Government. (2022). Web.

Criminal records act 1991 no 8. (2020). Parliamentary Councel’s Office. Web.

Fielder, A. (2020). Cleaning up our acts: A socio-legal appraisal of Western Australia’s need for additional criminal record employment discrimination legislation (Doctoral dissertation, Murdoch University).

Jackson, S. (2020). Career pathways of social workers with criminal convictions: Gifted healers and misunderstood misfits (Doctoral dissertation, ResearchSpace@Auckland).

Kennedy, R., Richards, J., & Leiman, T. (2016). Integrating human service law, ethics and practice. OUPANZ.

Krone, T., Spiranovic, C., Prichard, J., Watters, P., Wortley, R., Gelb, K., & Hunn, C. (2020). Child sexual abuse material in child-centred institutions: Situational crime prevention approaches. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 26(1), 91-110. Web.

Manthorpe, J., & Bramley, S. (2020). Barriers and facilitators to ex-service personnel obtaining employment within social care roles with older people: A scoping review. Working with Older People, 24(3), 205-220. Web.

Martin, S. (2022). Exploring the Lived Experiences of Human Resources Managers Hiring Applicants with Past Criminal Convictions (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University).

Mohanty, N. (2022). A case study on rheumatoid arthritis. International Journal of Recent Advances in Multidisciplinary Topics, 3(3), 145–149. Web.

Westfall, A. E. (2019). Recidivism: An action research study of social workers’ and defense attorneys’ perspectives (Order No. 22624113). Web.

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