Questions based on human rights, link between them and ethical practices and scope of practise in human services

What is scope of practice?

The definition of professional practice scope represents the designated part of the field that human services professionals may legally practice within, depending on their educational level, training, and ethical and legal regulations. It is the countable list of tasks and activities which fully demonstrate the scope of a profession's full set of responsibilities for individuals working in that profession and it is expected from them only.

Why is scope of practice important in the human services professions?

For the offence involving the illegal possession of drugs, the accused will face a lower penalty than that of robbery or murder in many cases, as the punishment for these acts is typically higher than that for drug possession. Altogether, it leads to conduct on high ethical grounds. These professionals are open-minded as constraints create superiority, trust, and accountability that matter for their clients, fellow professionals, and the wider society. Service providers are skilled, and trained and work to carry out specific services and interventions comfortably within their scope of service delivery. 

Provide an example of a professional working outside of their scope of practice.

A sample professional practising beyond their boundaries is a psychologist who deploys "energy medicine" as the sole therapeutic treatment for clients. Regardless of the literature confirmation and compliance with professional standards, psychologist goes against those lines. Such practices, by no means, seem to be in concurrence with ethical standards and to this end, clients’ well-being comes in danger and, moreover, brings discredit to the profession.

How can you ensure that you are working within your scope of practice in your profession?

To establish the proper one's boundaries of practice, a possible sequence is required. Primary, continuing and updating of knowledge is the key to following evidence-based practices, regular changes of regulations, and ethical code of conduct. As a second issue, the practice of self-awareness and humility is vital. Realize one’s limits and not hesitate to hire someone or take expert advice when dealing with a situation previously not experienced or a population previously unknown. This then constitutes the act of referring the clients to the more qualified professionals or seeking mentorship which plays an integral role in improving skills and knowledge.

Another point to consider is the strictness of organizational policies and operations. All professionals, including line managers, must be well-versed in and abide by the internal quality guidelines such as client populations served, authorized interventions and safety measures. Also, reflective and feedback exchanges with peers and superiors can raise up professional’s image and help to find areas of improvement. Practice is continuously examined and reflected on, thus, practitioners meet the ethical standards and scope of practice during their performance.

QUESTION 2

Define human rights.

Human rights are rights and freedoms that are inalienable and are enjoyed by all humans merely by being a human beings. These rights are called of the people, are inherent, and are indivisible, which exactly means they are for everyone at any time, cannot be lost, and they become interconnected as they are universal. Human rights as a whole comprise a very broad range of rights, which umbrella both civil and political rights, economic, social, as well as cultural rights. These rights underpin the basis of man's dignity, equality, and justice, therefore, usually, they find their legal expression in the laws of countries, international treaties and declarations.

Discuss the importance of three separate human rights and their impact on society.

• Freedom of speech: Freedom of speech not only is a human right but also a libertarian principle which gives a person a right to disclose and debate their thoughts, feelings, or beliefs without fear of being punished or suppressed. It was made possible by the communicative exchange this provided, the emergence and spread of public debate and discourse, and the furtherance of accountability and transparency in government and institutions. If freedom of speech is outlawed, then societies will no longer remain open and therefore might turn dictatorial and strict, which will in turn restrict progression as well as new inventions and creativity.

• Right to education: Education rights are the basis for the idea that everyone is entitled to an education of the highest quality and without any partisan factor playing a role. Education is the great gender equalizer; it gives people the power to make choices in their lives, and it also expands space for people's advancement, opening the doors of society for them. It is the most effective tool in social mobility achievement, poverty reduction, and inequality lessening. It further plays a role in economic growth boost and stabilization. Through education, societies create a world fit for everyone, and economies are not only just and balanced but also prosperous.

• Right to health: The right to health, included in this, is the provision of prompt, low-cost, and top-notch healthcare services as well as other determinants of health, including clean water, sanitation, and enough nutritional intake. It allows individuals to not only hold the highest level of care and health but also helps them to be independent of discrimination or stigmas regarding healthcare. Along with the right to health, biological welfare, and life is maintained. Besides, individual well-being and life expectancy levels are improved, which in turn strengthens communities enhances productivity, and decreases healthcare costs in the long run.

What steps can individuals and communities take to ensure that everyone’s human rights are respected and protected?

• Promote awareness and education: People, local communities or groups can focus on awareness campaigns, demanding policy changes, and educate others on human rights and obligations. Creating a societal dimension of human rights would allow them to be empowered and themselves as well as others to be able to address those responsible with impunity.

• Support civil society organizations: Civil organizations society is a definitive actor in meeting human rights, to protect the victims by provision of legal aid and their advocacy for systemic change. Both individuals and communities are welcome to contribute to human rights organizations by volunteering, donating, and organizing grassroots activism efforts that will lend support to the cause and get the messages out to various sectors.

• Engage in dialogue and collaboration: Working on partnerships across sectors and stakeholders that are inclusive and collaborative could help to live with challenges of human rights in a better way and be more effective with the effectiveness. Social justice and human rights directives have a clear common goal of people and community empowerment by creating a dialogue sharing their best practices and collaborating together on common targets so that they can efficiently allocate their collective powers and resources.

Which human rights do you think are the most fundamental and why?

It is not just the case that all human rights promote sufficiency and fairness; some are considered to be foundational and interconnected like the supporting elements of a democratic and inclusive society: the bedrock on which it stands. All the way from among these the right to life, liberty and the security of a person are thought the most fundamental since they are the basic requirements that an individual needs to exercise their other rights and freedoms.

Life is the foundation of all other rights; if you can legally kill an individual, all remaining rights are powerless. Rightly, just like liberty is about not being arbitrarily arrested or detained, the security of a person is that people cannot be labelled with violence, torture or harm. These basic rights, along with every other, are the foundation stone of human dignity and their importance must be recognized if the idea of an equal, just, and lawful society is to be established.

QUESTION 3

Discuss the links between human rights and ethical practice using one of the topics we focused on in the lecture.

This lecture includes the social inequity of discriminatory practices that are immune to human rights and is addressed as one of the topics, such as the forming of a national anti-racism strategy. Values of human rights stand for basic conceptions of equality, dignity, and non-discrimination. They are the foundation on which people build their society and they should be guarded. Ethical work on these issues calls for not only confronting racism but also for creating a community, where all people - be it white, black, or Asian ethnics - are treated equally and fairly.

Provide two examples of the link between human rights and ethical practice using an example for one or more topics we focused on in the lecture.

Example 1:

The formulation of an Australian national anti-racism strategy through the Human Rights Commission (AHRC) explains the human rights standard that the nation chooses to uphold. The strategy will overcome systematic racism through policy and community-directed talks on the disclosure that is a sign of equal opportunity and ethical practice. This fellowship recognizes the inherent dignity of each human being and makes an attempt to embody these values of equality and fairness in societies.

Example 2:

Besides the government offices and supervisory bodies who formally commit to proceeding with the process of truth-telling and reconciliation with the First Nations peoples, this shows the interconnection between human rights and ethical practices. To properly appreciate historical injustice in the form of colonialism and appropriation, we need to back such acts with the human rights violations that Indigenous communities have gone through. Through accountability measures in truth commissioning and the implementation of reconciliation initiatives, parties lessen the likelihood of the mistreatment of Indigenous groups and improve their ethical responsibility.

Consider the role of human rights in the ethical practice of your chosen future profession.

In the field of social work I have decided to enter, human rights, are one of the essential components for ethical behaviour by professionals. The social workers' work is based on the ideas of social fairness, commonly seen as the mirror of human rights principles. The guarantees of the clients' rights and dignity are the main fundamentals of the ethical philosophy of the medical profession. This calls for fights for recognizing the rights of the marginalized and deprived, overthrowing discrimination putting people into bonds, and ensuring fair distribution of resources and opportunities.

How best can you respect the rights of your clients in your chosen profession?

Social work personnel have to be good at taking both individual and systemic approaches towards people's rights accommodation. Primarily, it is initiated by creating a therapeutic relationship where patients will find trust, empathy, and cultural acceptance. On top of all that, social workers need to be excellent listeners when clients tell their stories be empathetic to the clients' situations, and of course, let the clients be part of the decision-making process.

Furthermore, effective respect for clients' rights means representing their independent voices and perspectives. Social workers need to be focused on making sure that clients will eventually gain the ability to choose the right options for themselves. This process could range between offering client-centred and sensitive guidance alongside the necessary information to keep the processes confidential and private.

In addition, social workers are obliged to break through the entrenched system opponents and prejudicial foundations which hinder clients' rights. Measures of this type include calling for policy change, combating discriminatory practices and sustaining development practices among others that enhance human rights-based approaches. Supporting macro-level advocacy and community organizing by social workers is an immensely preferable way of being able to empower clients and communities alike.

QUESTION 4 

Give a general overview of the importance of power and boundaries in professional relationships.

One of the features that are the basics in a professional relationship is power dynamics and boundaries, which are usually dealt with in the fields of psychology, counselling and social work. Power entails influence, leadership and orders, and one party has them over another. Boundaries are to set the limits and expectations of the relationship. Be it in a work situation, relationship, or collaborative situation, they are the elements that determine the nature of our professional interactions, dynamics, and outcomes.

Oftentimes practices have positions of authority in professional relationships considering their built-areas, and level of experience. This disparity impacts relationships in such a way that the way of communication, decision-making, and self-agent of clients are all affected. Setting up fixed limits is one of the foremost responsibilities because they encapsulate the relationship in a certain course, thus guaranteeing both party's rights, staying healthy and honourable.

How does managing power and boundaries in a professional relationship relate to ethical practice?

Power and boundary issues in professional relationships are intelligently dealt with within the context of ethical conduct. Ethical standards and guidelines, as they have been established by professional organizations such as the Australian Psychological Society (APS), stress the relevance of professional and ethical standards in setting boundary aspects of the relationship and responsibly using the influence and power granted to the practitioners only for the sake of the client’s welfare and ensuring the professional standards for all psychologists.

Ethics implies that counsellors to give consideration to the role they take on potential clients and the influence such a position possesses for the individuals concerned. Through defining and checking these boundaries, clinicians can minimize the chance of putting their authority to use and establish a trustworthy and equal relationship with the client by keeping the focus on the client's benefit. Moreover, ethically practising power dynamics involves also empowering the client's self-governance, consent for informed decisions, and ensuring confidentiality, working closely to build a trusting and therapeutic relationship.

How does respecting the power dynamic and boundaries in a professional relationship ensure your client’s rights are respected?

There are some basic things to keep in mind regarding the power dynamic and professional boundaries that are crucial for the protection of the client's rights and dignity. When practitioners use power appropriately and position correct borders in this case, they generate a safe and empowering atmosphere where clients realize that they are respected, and they also value and support the exercise of necessary rights. This is accomplished by maintaining the boundaries of the relationship, thus acknowledging clients’ autonomy and confidentiality, assuring that their personal data and individual choices are protected in this way. It does this by building trust and transparency in the connection, thus clients are strengthened to be active finders and participants in the therapeutic process as well as being well informed about their own care.

Consequently, respecting the power dynamic requires dealing with and equalizing any imbalances in power, and providing clients with a forum to voice their needs without being afraid that they might be coerced to do it.
Provide examples by using the material provided to you throughout the trimester. Consider here the ethical scenarios or perhaps the AHPRA examples we have discussed prior. These can be found on the front page of the Moodle class space.

Psychologists practising in rural areas are just as vulnerable as psychologists in other settings to problems of power and boundaries but must contend with diverse challenges because of the interactive web formed by the limited number of people in rural communities and the blurring of personal and professional relations. For instance, a psychologist in this town may have numerous relationships with clients.

Some of them might be close with the psychologist's family members, while others could be attending the community events where the psychologist is present as well. These situations call for a psychologist to be able to appropriately respect boundaries and make ethical management of power in such relationships.

Navigating these relationships with grace and care still remains something to be done. Whether lawyers live in the midst of the hustle and bustle of a big city or in a peaceful and quiet rural life, they must balance their professional obligations with the actual realities of life in the countryside, to make sure that the client's rights to confidentiality, autonomy, and privacy are all protected. This may be achieved by communicating to the client's boundaries convex incurring into the therapeutic relationship, getting an informed consent for any questionable circumstances as well as seeking supervision or consulting when confronted with such situations.

 

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