Ethical dilemmas in policy practice: a Conceptual Framework

Figures & data

Table 1. Policy Practice Ethical dilemmas: The framework

	Deciding whether to engage in policy practice	Determining the content of the policy solution	Choosing policy practice strategies
Conflicts of loyalty: to service users and employing organisation or policymakers	1. Should I engage in policy practice despite the opposition of my employing organisation or policymakers?	2. How can I choose between the policies supported by my organisation and those sought by my service users or by me?	3. How ought I act if I believe that confrontational strategies are crucial to furthering policies even if this entails going against my employers?
Conflicts of loyalty: to oneself and to service users and employing organisation	4. Should I engage in policy practice if I know that it will help my service users but is likely to adversely affect my workplace position or my family and friends?	5. Should I support a policy solution if I know that it will help my service users but is likely to adversely affect my workplace position or my family and friends	6. Should I adopt a strategy to promote a policy even if it may have an adverse effect on my workplace position or my family and friends?
Conflicts of loyalty: between different groups of service users	7. Should I engage in policy practice if I know that it will help my current service users but may have a detrimental effect on others in need?	8. Should I promote policies that help my service users but I am aware that they are undesirable to other groups? 9. Should I support policies that benefit more people but may be detrimental to my service users? 10. Should I agree to policies that offer short-term or partial solutions?	11. Should I adopt a strategy to promote a policy even if it may have an adverse effect on other service users?
Conflicts between self-determination and paternalism	12. Should I engage in policy change sought by my service users although I believe that it is not in their best interest or should I change policies detrimental to my service users even if they do not support this?	13. What should I promote when I believe that a specific policy is beneficial but my service users have a different perspective?	14. Should I employ a strategy that I deem useful even if my service users disagree
Conflict between the social workers’ personal or professional values, and the values of service users, social workers’ employees or the law	15. Should I engage in policy practice in order to promote policy change that is supported by my service users or my organisation even if clashes with my personal or/and professional values?	16. Which policy should I support when my service users’ preferred policy contradicts my personal or professional values?	17. Should I adopt strategies that my services users desire but that run counter to my personal or professional values? 18. Is there justification for engaging in strategies that I believe may further policy change but entail rule-breaking? 19. Should I collaborate with policymakers seeking to promote desirable policy change if their views and actions contradict my personal or professional values?