Vera Salter
DCA is proud to endorse the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) Code of Ethics. Direct care workers are essential to the well-being of millions of elderly and people living with disabilities. Each day, we are faced with challenges and are forced to think and act quickly – but how do you ensure you’re making the best decision each time? The National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals’ Code of Ethics helps us do just that.
The NADSP Code of Ethics demonstrates the high level of commitment workers must make to those they support, in order to make a real difference in their lives. The code reflects key values such as allegiance to the well-being and self-determination of another; respect; dignity; integrity, justice and equity. Only talented, committed professionals like direct care workers are able to make such commitments.
This ethical commitment is the foundation for the NADSP credential and sets a national standard for the ethics and open-hearted compassion required to do this work. This code shows how complex and difficult direct care work can be and demonstrates that this workforce is deserving of respect and fairness. The Direct Care Alliance shares this commitment to excellence as we work to build thriving state worker associations, advance a worker-centered national policy agenda (link to key issues pages) and build a national credential for personal care workers that reflects the principles outlined in NADSP’s code of ethics.
Do you share this commitment? Here is an excerpt from the NADSP Code of Ethics.
1. Person-Centered Supports
As a DSP, my first allegiance is to the person I support; all other activities and functions I perform flow from this allegiance.
As a DSP, I will -
- Recognize that each person must direct his or her own life and support and that the unique social network, circumstances, personality, preferences, needs and gifts of each person I support must be the primary for guide the selection, structure, and use of supports for that individual.
- Commit to person-centered supports as best practice.
- Provide advocacy when the needs of the system override those of the individual(s) I support, or when individual preferences, needs or gifts are neglected for other reasons.
- Honor the personality, preferences, culture and gifts of people who cannot speak by seeking other ways of understanding them.
- Focus first on the person, and understand that my role in direct supports will require flexibility, creativity and commitment.
