Practising ethically during COVID-19: Social work challenges and responses

• Published in: International social work Vol. 63; no. 5; pp. 569 - 583
• Main Authors: Banks, Sarah, Cai, Tian, de Jonge, Ed, Shears, Jane, Shum, Michelle, Sobočan, Ana M., Strom, Kim, Truell, Rory, Úriz, María Jesús, Weinberg, Merlinda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-09-2020; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Autonomy; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Decision making; Emotions; Ethical dilemmas; Ethics; Human dignity; Inequality; Privacy; Social response; Social work; Social workers; COVID-19; inequities; ethics; pandemic; social work; ethical logistics
• ISSN: 0020-8728; 1461-7234
• DOI: 10.1177/0020872820949614

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.