Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Social Work Practice

This introductory textbook supports students and readers to critically reflect on the complex ethical dilemmas that they will face in social work practice. Every chapter opens with an 'ethical dilemma within an object' feature which looks at a specific object and it's story from the perspective of a practitioner, person with lived-experience, social work student or social work educator. Each chapter is then framed around a detailed ethical dilemma case study that develops and supports students to reflect on the dilemma as it progresses.This is supplemented by a 'contemporary ethical dilemma' which will locate the chapter topic outside social work practice in broader real-life applicability. The conclusion will return to the object introduced at the beginning of the chapter to reinforce the core concepts covered. Supported by guidance from ethical codes, standards and principles from around the world, the book will empower students to engage with theory and practice in a real and applicable manner, exploring the complexities that they are likely to face on practice placement and in post-qualification practice, and equipping them with the tools to approach and tackle these effectively.