Research of the ethical dilemmas, values and principles of social work
Social work as an interactive relationship discipline is based on values and an ethical approach. In practice, social workers are faced with a range of ethical dilemmas with which they have to deal on a day-to-day basis, and which involve the taking of decisions on the methods and techniques of social work to be applied and the approach to interacting with the client. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), as the coordinator of social work in the Czech Republic, is responsible, among other things, for ensuring that an ethical approach is applied to clients that guarantees the provision of quality services. At the same time, the MoLSA is actively working on a substantive draft of legislation on social workers, which is planned to include the creation of a new ethical code for such workers, for which it is necessary to obtain the relevant input data. A detailed knowledge is, therefore, essential of the various ethical dilemmas faced by social workers in practice and the ethical values and principles that they perceive as being of importance. The objective of the project is to determine the professional theoretical and empirical background that will allow for a targeted conceptual and methodological approach by the MoLSA in the given area and which will contribute to the enhancement of the professionalisation of social work. Based on the creation of an overview, and the analysis of the theoretical background and the compilation of specific research data and knowledge, an analysis will be conducted of the ethical values and principles applied in practice by social workers and a synopsis obtained of the most common ethical dilemmas involved in social work. The outputs obtained are being verified via discussions with professional social worker organisations. The final results of the project will be used in the drafting of a code of ethics for social workers.