Intro to human services.

ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS Any profession, regardless of its other characteristics, maintains standards that guide its members' functioning. In the helping professions, certain ethical standards have grown over the years from the experience of the people engaged in those activities. The standards that human service providers follow, while recognizing the basic minimal rights of clients as set down in law, go beyond these rights to suggest broader guidelines in regards to human service worker-client relationships. To date, since there is not nationally recognized single professional standards group for human service workers, there is no single set of ethical standards. However, the following ethical standards are representative of the standards of most professional groups in the helping professions. 1. Treat clients with respect and dignity. 2. Help every client to the best of their ability. 3. Respect the client's privacy. 4. Maintain confidential relationships. 5. Engage only in activities in which you are competent. 6. Maintain a professional helping relationship. 7. Continue to upgrade your skills. 8. Protect your community against the unethical practices of others. 9. Respect your colleagues and relate to them in professional manner. **Taken from Human Services Concepts and Intervention Strategies by Joseph Mehr, 1992.Explain, in 2 to 4 paragraphs, what a Code of Ethics means to you, how you would intend to abide by a Code of Ethics, and what is the most important about a professional code of ethics to you as a potential human service professional