Practising ethically during COVID-19: Social work challenges and responses
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 20 August 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in International Social Work
- Vol. 63 (5), 569-583
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872820949614
Abstract
This article draws on findings of an international study of social workers’ ethical challenges during COVID-19, based on 607 responses to a qualitative survey. Ethical challenges included the following: maintaining trust, privacy, dignity and service user autonomy in remote relationships; allocating limited resources; balancing rights and needs of different parties; deciding whether to break or bend policies in the interests of service users; and handling emotions and ensuring care of self and colleagues. The article considers regional contrasts, the ‘ethical logistics’ of complex decision-making, the impact of societal inequities, and lessons for social workers and professional practice around the globe.Keywords
This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit:
- The Corona crisis and the erosion of ‘the social’ – giving a decisive voice to the social professionsEuropean Journal of Social Work, 2020
- Lockdown is not egalitarian: the costs fall on the global poorThe Lancet, 2020
- Social work’s role during and after the pandemic: Keeping vigilant and hopeful on human rightsInternational Social Work, 2020
- Loneliness and Social Isolation in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Gerontological Social WorkThe journal of nutrition, health & aging, 2020
- COVID-19 exacerbating inequalities in the USThe Lancet, 2020
- Coronavirus Pandemic Calls for an Immediate Social Work ResponseSocial Work in Public Health, 2020
- Practising professional ethical wisdomPublished by Taylor & Francis Ltd ,2018
- Healthcare logistics and supply chain – issues and future challengesSupply Chain Forum: An International Journal, 2018
- Everyday ethics in professional life: social work as ethics workEthics and Social Welfare, 2016
- Interprofessional EthicsPublished by Cambridge University Press (CUP) ,2014