Conflitos e dilemas éticos no trabalho social

: uma análise do trabalho dos técnicos de infância e juventude da Segurança Social

Abstract

The present study aims to comprehend the conflicts and ethical dilemmas that cross through the professional activity from NIJ workers and which are the implications in their work, health and personal life. For that reason, it was chosen a qualitative methodology, through the conduction of interviews to eight participants of the Promotion and Protection service from the Social Security Institute, from the district of Porto. The data evaluation proved that according to the level of working conditions, almost all participants referred the “work amount” as one of the main inhibition of their activity. According to the ethical dilemma, these were divided in four groups: ethical dilemmas related to the identification of the worker personal background history; ethical dilemmas associated with professional practices of pairs; ethical dilemmas related to organization as well as ethical dilemmas related to the target audience of the intervention. The confrontation with ethical dilemmas leads workers to carry out some strategies to solve or diminish this kind if situations. The development of collective support strategies (team discussion); the use of reference tools (the technician manual) and the individual strategies (job’s resignation), were obvious. From the participants speeches it was possible to be aware of the costs in health and personal life inherent to these situations. In spite of the work conditions being compromised by the crisis we are living in, it is important to give some visibility to those conditions as well as debate them, because your silence can call into question the health and well-being of these professionals.

Date of Award	2014
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Liliana Cunha (Supervisor)