Moral Responsibilities of a Human Services Leader

Human services is the industry of public, non-profit and charity organizations that have developed in response to human needs. Human services leaders organize and oversee human services work. These educated professionals must uphold the integrity and ethics of the profession by fulfilling certain moral responsibilities to clients, to the community, to colleagues and to the profession.

Responsiblity to Clients

• Human services leaders have a moral responsibility to see that all employees respect the integrity and welfare of their clients at all times. They must ensure that human services workers treat each client with respect, acceptance and dignity. Leaders must protect each client's right to privacy and confidentiality, except in circumstances in which confidentiality would cause harm to the client or to others. If a human services leader suspects danger or harm or is advised by an employee of possible danger or harm, he is morally obligated to invoke authorities. To fulfill ethical duties to clients, human services leaders must also refrain from sexual or romantic relationships with clients and require that all employees do the same.

Responsibility to the Community

• Human services leaders are morally responsible for serving the community and meeting human needs. Although human services organizations are obligated to uphold local, state and federal laws, they are expected to advocate for change in regulations and statutes when legislation conflicts with ethical guidelines for the human services industry or with clients' rights. Human services leaders should initiate social action and lead employees to become involved in public policies to improve the welfare and well being of all individuals, their families and the communities in which they live. Leaders must also ensure that the organization they oversee provides services without discrimination or preference with regard to age, ethnicity, culture, race, religion, socioeconomic status, disability, gender or sexual orientation.

Responsibility to Colleagues

• Human services leaders have a moral responsibility to colleagues. They must avoid duplicating another professional's relationship with a client. In other words, a human services leader should not interfere with the work of another human services agency or organization that is already helping a client. When a human services leader conflicts with a colleague regarding a client's needs or the care or services being rendered to him, he must resolve the dispute amicably and consult other professionals, if necessary, to manage the problem so that the human services industry functions as best it can.

Responsibility to the Profession

• Human services leaders must understand the scope of their professional knowledge and only render services within their knowledge and skill base. When necessary, human services leaders should consult other leaders to aid in decision-making. Human services leaders must promote cooperation among related disciplines (psychology, counseling, social work, nursing, medicine, education, and family and consumer sciences). They should instruct their employees to cooperate with and use the resources of related disciplines. Human services leaders should also promote the profession by encouraging and assisting employees to continue education and to develop professionally.