The skills, values and attitudes present in human service workers are what shape their way of thinking and directs their actions. These are the guides for day to day practice. All human service workers must be accountable for their profession. Decisions and actions are often guided by workers attitudes and beliefs. .
Acceptance conveys a positive regard for all consumers" strengths and potential growth. It means a nonjudgmental attitude toward those they are trying to help. .
Workers must have a professional caring and concerned commitment for working with consumers. At the same time, they must separate their own personal feelings from other's situations. They refrain from bias and prejudices. They have to learn how to respond neutrally without seeming cold or detached. This is called empathy. .
Each human service worker knows the importance of confidentiality. This not only includes protecting the identity of a consumer, but also refraining from personal opinions and judgments. This means not listening to gossip inside or outside the agency. This is a very sensitive topic and especially so when working with children. Confidentiality builds trust. This is an important value in all human service workers. .
They all must know that they are accountable for their conduct. Ethics are rules of standards for the professions who work with others. This means integrity and impartiality in practice. Human services have established customs that are for the good of the client (Harris & Maloney, 1999, p. 184). Worker must study the codes and understand their implications for practice. They need to know relevant laws and policy and procedure requirements that apply to their particular field. By increasing their knowledge of the laws concerning their fields of practice, they are also increasing their accountability. According to Jayaratne, Croxton, & Mattison (these "standards of care" are sometimes vague.
