Ethical transformations: developing ethical competencies for the social professions through action research

Abstract

ABSTRACT Results from a prolonged educational action research project – with the objective of bridging the gap between the micro and macro levels of ethical and values-based practices in welfare work – enquire the dynamic between individual, interpersonal and organisational dimensions of professional ethics. This article advocates that ethical responsibility is not only an individual concern, but equally collective and organisational. The research findings indicate that ethical issues tend to be individualised, whilst the organisational responsibility is not yet fully incorporated in the professional codes of ethics, the educational curriculum, nor in ethical interventions in work practice. Based on Danish action research in educational programmes, involving practiced-based internship periods in welfare institutions, the research results advocate for several prospective developments of professional ethics for the social professions. The following elements are apparent: continuous training at workplaces, further exploration of methods for processing complex ethical dilemmas through action research in collaboration with labour unions, and novel didactic approaches to ethics-based education. An imperative prospect is research and educational policy work. Hence ethics-education must incorporate specific methods for supervision and continue to innovate profession didactics in the education of the social professions which consolidate cooperation between all agents and institutions that affect learning trajectories and professionals’ work-life.