The contribution of education and learning for ethical practice: situating ethics and values within the social work continuum

This chapter considers the importance of values and ethics in relation to motivation to enter social work and how this develops as social work students continue their journey to becoming a registered and regulated professional. Drawing upon some ideas related to lifelong learning and life course development, this chapter asserts and illustrates the importance of an understanding of ethics and values for inclusive practice within the continuum of social work. This starts at point of entry to social work education and follows through to your continuing professional development in social work practice. Implicit within this chapter is a recognition of the ‘experiences of being’ (Dalrymple and Burke, 2006: 5; Dunk-West, 2013), and ‘becoming’ a social worker. These are central concepts for developing and maintaining continuity and consistency in attitude, behaviour and practice vis-à-vis inclusive practice and working towards principles of social justice within various social work contexts.

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