Procedurally fair? Fairly procedural?: … ethics, fairness and welfare practice

Abstract

This paper examines the principles of procedural fairness and their application to welfare practice. The paper considers whether social workers ought to measure the adequacy of their practice, not just against those requirements ususally set out in the professional Codes of Ethics, but also against the procedural fairness expectations of decision-making more usually the province of courts and like bodies. The paper concludes that these expectations are not only in keeping with the Code of Ethics, but that competent practice demands no less of practitioners.