Dr. Ana M. SobočanIstanbul, 18.4.2013

Uncertainties in social work practice: a challenge or an incentive for ethical practice?

• Does dealing with uncertainties lead to ethical expertise?

• Research about ethical decision making (with social workers in Slovenia) – theories ‘produced’ by social workers

• Uncertainties in social work practice of a set of Slovenian social workers: procedural uncertainties, professional uncertainties, personal uncertainties, situational uncertainties

Uncertainties in SW: CONTEXT

• Exclusive use of legislation / laws• Relocating responsibility• Sharing responsibility / involving authorities• Negotiations with other professionals• Appropriating the law / creative use of legislation• Advocating for change / implementation of change

Procedural uncertainties

• Sticking with the routine• Sticking to the limits of the profession• Strengthening the professional identity• ‘Just in case’ scenarios• ‘You know what you are doing’ approach• Using the existing networks• Seeking allies

Professional uncertainties

• Questioning own practice• Long-life learning and trainings • Seeking help, supervision and consulting with others • Care of self • Dealing with ‘Have I really done everything?’

Personal uncertainties

A dump-bin for anything that cannot be explained or controlled:• Professional and other shortcomings or errors are explained

with phenomena such as ‘coincidence’, lack of knowledge, bad luck …

• Advantage is automatically (without consideration) given to short-term solutions over long-term, ‘care’ over ‘justice’, loyalty over truth, individual over community etc.

Situational uncertainties

Burning issues:

• What is the most ethical choice ? / What is the most justifiable choice?

• Relationships with service users as a source of certainty, source of gratification, source of a feeling of professionalism

Dealing with uncertainties

• Engaging with uncertainties as a necessary element of ethical practice• Moving from starting with a

question‘what can be done’ to the question ‘what should be done’

Dealing with uncertainties

Ana.Sobocan@fsd.uni-lj.siThank you!