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Araujo, L. de C. S. M., & Pereira Ribeiro, S. M. (2026). The Ethical Dilemmas of Social Work from an International Perspective: An Integrative Review. Eleuthera, 28(2), 237–255. https://doi.org/10.17151/eleu.2026.28.2.11
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Abstract
This study offers a reflection on key ethical dilemmas in the professional practice of Social Work, based on an integrative literature review conducted between 2020 and 2024. The analysis is grounded in a theoretical framework that positions professional ethics as an essential component of the ethical-political project of Social Work. The review considered 5,126 articles retrieved from the databases SciELO, PubMed, Science Direct, DOAJ, ERIC, and SSRN, from which nine studies were selected according to established inclusion criteria. The findings are organized into four thematic categories: the pedagogical training of social workers to address ethical dilemmas; the use of social regulation tools as strategies for intervention; the impacts of new technologies and emerging social issues; and recurring ethical dilemmas in professional practice in connection with professional codes of ethics. The study concludes that the ethical dilemmas faced by social workers are multifaceted and shaped by structural, political, and cultural factors.
References
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APSS. (2018). Código deontológico dos Assistentes Sociais em Portugal. Lisboa: APSS. http://surl.li/engpq
Banks, S. (2012). Ethics and values in social work. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Barboza, D. R., & Freire, S. M. (2006). O serviço social crítico no atual contexto de redemocratização da América Latina. Revista Katálysis, 9(2), 145–154. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1414-49802006000200010
Bajjaly, S., & Saunders, L. (2023). Teaching soft skills competencies in US social work programs. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 43(2), 193–210. https://doi.org/10.1080/08841233.2023.2176403
Bosanquet, H. (1914). Social work in England - 1869 to 1912: A history of the Charity Organisation. London: Methuen. https://wellcomecollection.org/works/yzsx8yse
Carvalho, M. I., Teles, H., & García, A. P. (2021). Reflexões sobre a confidencialidade como ética na prática profissional dos assistentes sociais. Revista Temas Sociais, (1), 49–66. https://doi.org/10.53809/2021-01-TS-n.1-49-66
CFESS - Conselho Federal de Serviço Social. (2019). Código de ética do/a assistente social e Lei 8.662/93 – Edição trilíngue [10ª ed. revista e atualizada]. Brasília, DF: CFESS. https://www.cfess.org.br/arquivos/2019CfessCEP-Trilingue-Site.pdf
Chatzifotiou, S., & Papouli, E. (2022). Social workers dealing with ethical dilemmas in the course of their professional work: The Greek experience. British Journal of Social Work, 52(8), 4795–4814. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcac084
Davis, N. (2024). Regulation of social work practice in the United States, United Kingdom, and European economic area: A perspective on governance. International Journal on Social and Education Sciences, 6(1), 103–116. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijonses.628
Dickens, J. (2008). Welfare, law and managerialism: Inter-discursivity and inter-professional practice in child care social work. Journal of Social Work, 8(4), 373–391. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017307084735
Esping-Andersen, G. (1990). The three worlds of welfare capitalism. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Fook, J. (2002). Social work: Critical theory and practice. London : Sage.
Garcés, R., & Serna, V. (2021). Revivir para vivir la experiencia: dilemas éticos y emociones políticas que se presentan en el trabajo social, en los procesos de restablecimiento de derechos de los niños, niñas y adolescentes. Revista Gestión de las Personas y Tecnología, 14(41), 20–43. https://dx.doi.org/10.35588/gpt.v14i41.5064
George, E., & Ekoh, P. (2020). Social workers’ perception of practice with lesbians, gays and bisexuals (LGBs) in Nigeria. Journal of Comparative Social Work, 15(2), 56–78. https://doi.org/10.31265/jcsw.v15i2.306
Guttmann, D. (2006). Ethics in social work: A context of caring (1st ed.). New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203725900
Harms, L., & Connolly, M. (2019). Social work: From theory to practice (3ª ed.). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108567961
Healy, K. (2009). A case of mistaken identity: The social welfare professions and New Public Management. Journal of Social Work, 9(4), 401–417. https://doi.org/10.1177/1440783309346476
Healy, L. M. (2007). Universalism and cultural relativism in social work ethics. International Social Work, 50(1), 11–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872807071479
Heffernan, K. (2006). Social work, new public management and the language of “service user.” The British Journal of Social Work, 36(1), 139–147. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23720871
Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G. D., Strom-Gottfried, K., & Larsen, J. (2010). Direct social work practice: Theory and skills (8ª ed.). Brooks/Cole.
Hugman, R. (2003). Professional ethics in social work: Living with the legacy. Australian Social Work, 56(1), 5–15. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.0312-407X.2003.00051.x
Iamamoto, M. V. (2008). Serviço social em tempo de capital fetiche: Trabalho e questão social. São Paulo: Cortez.
IFSW/IASSW. (2018). Global definition of social work e Global Social Work Ethics Statement. https://www.ifsw.org/global-social-work-statement-of-ethical-principles/
Koskinen, R., Helminen, K., Koski, A., Malkavaara, M., Sanerma, P., & Sihvo, P. (2022). Modus operandi for ethical action in social and health care in the era of digitalisation.Finnish Journal of EHealth and EWelfare, 14(4), 405–417. https://doi.org/10.23996/fjhw.113414
Lipsky, M. (2010). Street-level bureaucracy: Dilemmas of the individual in public services. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: Recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311
McAuliffe, D., & Sudbery, J. (2005). ‘Who do I tell?’: Support and consultation in cases of ethical conflict. Journal of Social Work, 5(1), 21–43. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017305051362
NASW. (2021). Code of ethics. Washington: NASW Press. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
Netto, J. P. (1999). A construção do projeto ético-político do Serviço Social frente à crise contemporânea (Módulo 1, Capacitação em Serviço Social e Política Social). CFESS/ABEPSS/CEAD/UnB. https://www.abepss.org.br/arquivos/anexos/a-construcao-doprojeto-eticopolitico-do-servico-social-201608060411147630190.pdf
Parton, N. (2014). The politics of child protection: Contemporary developments and future directions. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Payne, M. (2022). Por qué los valores del trabajo social son esenciales para la práctica. In Consejo General del Trabajo Social (Eds.), IV Congreso Estatal y II Iberoamericano del Trabajo Social (pp. 81–99). Madrid: Consejo General del Trabajo Social. https://www.cgtrabajosocial.es/files/63b2bf3765fe7/libro_ponencias_final.pdf
Perumal, N., & Tanga, P. (2020). “It doesn’t matter how many (cases) you got, if you love the job, you can manage everything”: Management strategies utilised by frontline social workers. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 56(3), 250. https://doi.org/10.15270/56-4-855
Petersen, L., & Nkomo, T. (2022). Pedagogical dilemmas for social work in academia. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 58(1), 101. https://doi.org/10.15270/58-1-990
Porcelli, A. (2020). La inteligencia artificial y la robótica: sus dilemas sociales, éticos y jurídicos. Derecho Global. Estudios sobre Derecho y Justicia, 6(16), 49–105. https://doi.org/10.32870/dgedj.v6i16.286
Rawls, J. (1971). A theory of justice. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Reamer, F. (1982). Conflicts of professional duty in social work. Social Casework, 63(10), 579–585. https://doi.org/10.1177/104438948206301001
Reamer, F. G. (2018). Social work values and ethics. New York: Columbia University Press.
Richmond, M. (1917). Social diagnosis. New York: Russell Sage Foundation. https://www.historyofsocialwork.org/PDFs/1917,%20Richmond,%20Social%20Diagnosis%20
OCR%20C.pdf
Rogers, M., & Brown, C. (2023). Critical ethical reflexivity (CER) in feminist narrative inquiry: Reflections from cis researchers doing social work research with trans and nonbinary people. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 27(4), 447–461. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2023.2187007
Sahin, A., Ozdemir, Y., Atak, I., & Artan, T. (2023). Evaluating the attitudes of social workers towards ethical dilemmas in Turkey. Archives of Health Science and Research, 10(3), 181–185. https://archhealthscires.org/Content/files/sayilar/32/181-185.pdf
Silvestre, M. (2018). Toma de decisiones éticas en el trabajo social comunitario: una aproximación desde la bioética. Documentos de Trabajo Social, 61, 81–101. https://www.trabajosocialmalaga.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/61_4.pdf
Teixeira, J. B., & Braz, M. (2009). O projeto ético-político do Serviço Social. In CFESS/CRESS (Org.), Serviço Social: Direitos sociais e competências profissionais (pp. 185-200). Brasília: CFESS.
Tronto, J. (1993). Moral boundaries: A political argument for an ethic of care. New York: Routledge.
Whittemore, R., & Knafl, K. (2005). The integrative review: Updated methodology. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 52(5), 546–553. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2005.03621.x
Wright, P., Szeto, W. F., & Cheng, T. W. (2002). Guanxi and professional conduct in China: A management development perspective. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 13(1), 156–182. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585190110083839
Amable, B. (2011). Morals and politics in the ideology of neo-liberalism. Socio-Economic Review, 9(1), 3–30. https://doi.org/10.1093/ser/mwq015
APSS. (2018). Código deontológico dos Assistentes Sociais em Portugal. Lisboa: APSS. http://surl.li/engpq
Banks, S. (2012). Ethics and values in social work. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Barboza, D. R., & Freire, S. M. (2006). O serviço social crítico no atual contexto de redemocratização da América Latina. Revista Katálysis, 9(2), 145–154. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1414-49802006000200010
Bajjaly, S., & Saunders, L. (2023). Teaching soft skills competencies in US social work programs. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 43(2), 193–210. https://doi.org/10.1080/08841233.2023.2176403
Bosanquet, H. (1914). Social work in England - 1869 to 1912: A history of the Charity Organisation. London: Methuen. https://wellcomecollection.org/works/yzsx8yse
Carvalho, M. I., Teles, H., & García, A. P. (2021). Reflexões sobre a confidencialidade como ética na prática profissional dos assistentes sociais. Revista Temas Sociais, (1), 49–66. https://doi.org/10.53809/2021-01-TS-n.1-49-66
CFESS - Conselho Federal de Serviço Social. (2019). Código de ética do/a assistente social e Lei 8.662/93 – Edição trilíngue [10ª ed. revista e atualizada]. Brasília, DF: CFESS. https://www.cfess.org.br/arquivos/2019CfessCEP-Trilingue-Site.pdf
Chatzifotiou, S., & Papouli, E. (2022). Social workers dealing with ethical dilemmas in the course of their professional work: The Greek experience. British Journal of Social Work, 52(8), 4795–4814. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcac084
Davis, N. (2024). Regulation of social work practice in the United States, United Kingdom, and European economic area: A perspective on governance. International Journal on Social and Education Sciences, 6(1), 103–116. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijonses.628
Dickens, J. (2008). Welfare, law and managerialism: Inter-discursivity and inter-professional practice in child care social work. Journal of Social Work, 8(4), 373–391. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017307084735
Esping-Andersen, G. (1990). The three worlds of welfare capitalism. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Fook, J. (2002). Social work: Critical theory and practice. London : Sage.
Garcés, R., & Serna, V. (2021). Revivir para vivir la experiencia: dilemas éticos y emociones políticas que se presentan en el trabajo social, en los procesos de restablecimiento de derechos de los niños, niñas y adolescentes. Revista Gestión de las Personas y Tecnología, 14(41), 20–43. https://dx.doi.org/10.35588/gpt.v14i41.5064
George, E., & Ekoh, P. (2020). Social workers’ perception of practice with lesbians, gays and bisexuals (LGBs) in Nigeria. Journal of Comparative Social Work, 15(2), 56–78. https://doi.org/10.31265/jcsw.v15i2.306
Guttmann, D. (2006). Ethics in social work: A context of caring (1st ed.). New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203725900
Harms, L., & Connolly, M. (2019). Social work: From theory to practice (3ª ed.). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108567961
Healy, K. (2009). A case of mistaken identity: The social welfare professions and New Public Management. Journal of Social Work, 9(4), 401–417. https://doi.org/10.1177/1440783309346476
Healy, L. M. (2007). Universalism and cultural relativism in social work ethics. International Social Work, 50(1), 11–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872807071479
Heffernan, K. (2006). Social work, new public management and the language of “service user.” The British Journal of Social Work, 36(1), 139–147. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23720871
Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G. D., Strom-Gottfried, K., & Larsen, J. (2010). Direct social work practice: Theory and skills (8ª ed.). Brooks/Cole.
Hugman, R. (2003). Professional ethics in social work: Living with the legacy. Australian Social Work, 56(1), 5–15. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.0312-407X.2003.00051.x
Iamamoto, M. V. (2008). Serviço social em tempo de capital fetiche: Trabalho e questão social. São Paulo: Cortez.
IFSW/IASSW. (2018). Global definition of social work e Global Social Work Ethics Statement. https://www.ifsw.org/global-social-work-statement-of-ethical-principles/
Koskinen, R., Helminen, K., Koski, A., Malkavaara, M., Sanerma, P., & Sihvo, P. (2022). Modus operandi for ethical action in social and health care in the era of digitalisation.Finnish Journal of EHealth and EWelfare, 14(4), 405–417. https://doi.org/10.23996/fjhw.113414
Lipsky, M. (2010). Street-level bureaucracy: Dilemmas of the individual in public services. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: Recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311
McAuliffe, D., & Sudbery, J. (2005). ‘Who do I tell?’: Support and consultation in cases of ethical conflict. Journal of Social Work, 5(1), 21–43. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017305051362
NASW. (2021). Code of ethics. Washington: NASW Press. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
Netto, J. P. (1999). A construção do projeto ético-político do Serviço Social frente à crise contemporânea (Módulo 1, Capacitação em Serviço Social e Política Social). CFESS/ABEPSS/CEAD/UnB. https://www.abepss.org.br/arquivos/anexos/a-construcao-doprojeto-eticopolitico-do-servico-social-201608060411147630190.pdf
Parton, N. (2014). The politics of child protection: Contemporary developments and future directions. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Payne, M. (2022). Por qué los valores del trabajo social son esenciales para la práctica. In Consejo General del Trabajo Social (Eds.), IV Congreso Estatal y II Iberoamericano del Trabajo Social (pp. 81–99). Madrid: Consejo General del Trabajo Social. https://www.cgtrabajosocial.es/files/63b2bf3765fe7/libro_ponencias_final.pdf
Perumal, N., & Tanga, P. (2020). “It doesn’t matter how many (cases) you got, if you love the job, you can manage everything”: Management strategies utilised by frontline social workers. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 56(3), 250. https://doi.org/10.15270/56-4-855
Petersen, L., & Nkomo, T. (2022). Pedagogical dilemmas for social work in academia. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 58(1), 101. https://doi.org/10.15270/58-1-990
Porcelli, A. (2020). La inteligencia artificial y la robótica: sus dilemas sociales, éticos y jurídicos. Derecho Global. Estudios sobre Derecho y Justicia, 6(16), 49–105. https://doi.org/10.32870/dgedj.v6i16.286
Rawls, J. (1971). A theory of justice. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Reamer, F. (1982). Conflicts of professional duty in social work. Social Casework, 63(10), 579–585. https://doi.org/10.1177/104438948206301001
Reamer, F. G. (2018). Social work values and ethics. New York: Columbia University Press.
Richmond, M. (1917). Social diagnosis. New York: Russell Sage Foundation. https://www.historyofsocialwork.org/PDFs/1917,%20Richmond,%20Social%20Diagnosis%20
OCR%20C.pdf
Rogers, M., & Brown, C. (2023). Critical ethical reflexivity (CER) in feminist narrative inquiry: Reflections from cis researchers doing social work research with trans and nonbinary people. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 27(4), 447–461. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2023.2187007
Sahin, A., Ozdemir, Y., Atak, I., & Artan, T. (2023). Evaluating the attitudes of social workers towards ethical dilemmas in Turkey. Archives of Health Science and Research, 10(3), 181–185. https://archhealthscires.org/Content/files/sayilar/32/181-185.pdf
Silvestre, M. (2018). Toma de decisiones éticas en el trabajo social comunitario: una aproximación desde la bioética. Documentos de Trabajo Social, 61, 81–101. https://www.trabajosocialmalaga.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/61_4.pdf
Teixeira, J. B., & Braz, M. (2009). O projeto ético-político do Serviço Social. In CFESS/CRESS (Org.), Serviço Social: Direitos sociais e competências profissionais (pp. 185-200). Brasília: CFESS.
Tronto, J. (1993). Moral boundaries: A political argument for an ethic of care. New York: Routledge.
Whittemore, R., & Knafl, K. (2005). The integrative review: Updated methodology. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 52(5), 546–553. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2005.03621.x
Wright, P., Szeto, W. F., & Cheng, T. W. (2002). Guanxi and professional conduct in China: A management development perspective. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 13(1), 156–182. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585190110083839
