Answer

Integrating Research and Practice

Social work practitioners are required to use holistic approaches in the provision of social work services. It has becoming increasingly important that social work practice is guided and pegged on scientific research and evidence. As such, social work practitioners should be able to integrate their formal academic knowledge within their fieldwork practice and embed it to ensure an effective resolution of problems that they face (Engel & Schutt, 2016). Using research, practitioners can evaluate the effectiveness of their interventions and even develop new policies and programs that may lead to better practice. This paper provides a discussion of a problem faced in social work practice and how research is used to establish the solution to the problem.

Problem from Practice Experience

One of the problems from my practice experience is that of ethical dilemmas. In specific, I might encounter a situation where two or more professional values are in conflict. More specifically, the issue of receiving gits might present issues to do with ethics because some of my clients; who I provide assistance to, might wish to reciprocate by gifts. Although the receipt of such a gift is a sign of good gesture, it can also present some ethical problems. If I receive a gift that may seem expensive, then there is possibility of a breach of integrity. However, saying no to such a gesture may also hurt the feelings of the client and hence damage the otherwise good relationship that existed (Wood & Tarrier, 2010). However, if a gift is expensive or handmade, it has always been considered appropriate to accept. This issue puts me in a confusion as to whether to accept the gift and massage the feelings of the client or reject it to uphold professional integrity while at the same time hurting the client’s feelings. However, the resolution of such a problem can be found in research.

Use of Research to Enhance Knowledge of The Specific Problem

The resolution to the ethical dilemma experienced in social work practice can be addressed through research. Specifically, research will enhance the knowledge of the practtitoner on the specific issue in question and thus equip them to effectively deal with the dilemma. However, a research that can be relied upon should be of high quality and reliable (Engel & Schutt, 2016). The use of research; in this case, would be to evaluate the various alternatives that exists for the resolution of such a dilemma. Through scholarly articles as well as professional codes of conduct, the practitioner; in this case, can identify the best resolution to such a problem. Additionally, research will lead to the development of knew knowledge and policies that can be relied upon (Wood & Tarrier, 2010). Through the scholarship efforts disseminated in books, journal articles, and other writings, a wide array of information can be gathered which when relied upon can lead to the best evidence solution to the problem.

Solution of The Problem from Research

Research holds that that the manner in which the ethical issue related to gifts is to be handled is based on the value of the gifts. For instance, Reamer (2013) recommends that if the girt is of minimal value and emotional significance, then social workers can keep them. However, according to Brown and Trangsrud (2018), such a solution is only applicable if the process of the grant of the gifts does not imply any ulterior motives and when such an action does not lead to egregious boundary violations. When the gift in question is one that can be shared among staffers, then the social worker can keep the gift (Blanco & Sheely‐Moore, 2012). However, the social worker; if working for a particular agency, must then thank the client on behalf of the agency. Reamer (2015) is adamant that the transaction between the social worker and the client should be depersonalized to help avoid crossing the boundary between the professional and the personal.

In the case of expensive gifts, social workers should always decline them because of the potential symbolic implications that they may make. Additionally, the social worker should always notice any red flags and anything considered to be out of the ordinary about the gift should be documented and explored. Reamer (2013) adds that if the gift is based on a quid pro quo (a return of a gift or favor), then such a gift should be declined but in a respectful manner. Moreover, according to Wood and Tarrier (2010); Reamer (2015), if the social worker is concerned about a gift, he/she should always consult with colleagues and supervisors when feasible and consider the ethical implications of accepting or not rejecting it. Additionally, the clients motives in giving the gift should be discerned and any ulterior motives should automictically lead to the social worker declining the gift (Brown & Trangsrud, 2018). Undertaking such measures can ensure that the social work handles the situation very well and uphold professional integrity.

Benefits of Research-Informed Practice and Practice-Informed Research.

            A research informed-practice and practice-informed research encourages a student to be reflective and open-minded in their research and practice. Notably, practice informed by research is more effective because the social work practitioners have a heightened knowledge about the approaches that they can use and hence make practice more engaging (Grinnell Jr & Unrau, 2010). For instance, research has led to the resolution of ethical issue about accepting or rejecting gifts in social work. Additionally, the practitioners confidence is improved from the implementation of new approaches based on research. Being informed about the current research in different issues can lead to the improvement of client outcomes because the interventions provided are based on the best available evidence (Wood & Tarrier, 2010). Practice-informed research, on the other hand, would be key to ensuring that the research conducted is informed by practice. Specifically practice experience in social work can be used as the basis for scientific inquiry.

In conclusion, the integration of both research and practice can lead to an enhancement of a practitioner’s knowledge about specific issues and hence the adoption of effective approaches in practice. One of the problems based on practice experience is dealing with the ethical dilemma presented by the client giving me expensive gifts as a token of appreciation for my help. Although receiving such a gift is a sign of respect to the client, it may a be a breach of professional integrity, especially when the gift is expensive. However, research has demonstrated the solution to such an issue is establishing the motive behind the gift and respectfully declining expensive gifts that are given on quid pro quo basis. Both research-informed practice and practice-informed research can lead to better client outcomes and also better scientific inquiry.