Class Questões Teóricas e Éticas em Serviço Social

This UC presents the theoretical and ethical issues of Social Work in order to promote the analytical and reflective capacity of Social Work as a discipline and profession. The first part focuses on theoretical issues in social work, analysing the nature, objectives and values of social work, the construction of knowledge in social work, as well as the paradigmatic theoretical fields and theories of social work. The second part deals with ethical issues in Social Work, analysing the main currents of ethical thought and an understanding of the space for ethics in Social Work. Subsequently, it addresses deontological issues in the profession and analyses the challenges, ethical dilemmas and decision-making.

Part I. Theoretical issues in Social Work

1.   Nature, aims and values of social work

2. Construction of knowledge in social work

2.1 The debates about the relationship between theory and professional practice: from scientific knowledge to "indigenous" knowledge

2.2 For an integrated theory of social work - From eclecticism to integration

2.3 Paradigmatic theoretical fields and theories of social work

Part II. Ethical Issues in Social Work

1. Ethics, Moral and Deontology

1.1. Main currents of ethical thought

2. Ethics and Social Work.

2.1 National and international references

2.2 From ethics to deontology in Social Work - Documents and guidelines

3. Contemporary trends and ethical challenges in Social Work

3.1 Challenges, ethical dilemmas and decision making

3.2 Reflexivity and ethical commitment in contemporary societies

The course unit will favour a mixed methodology that integrates moments of presentation and deepening of specific contents by the teacher with a dimension of debate and critical analysis of reference texts. The curricular unit integrates, simultaneously

i) the traditional model with the presentation of concepts, frameworks and theoretical reflections

ii) the participatory model centred in the student, through strategies and dynamics that promote the participation of students in the joint construction of theoretical and practical knowledge, promoting its apprehension and the development of personal and professional reflexivity.

Adams, Dominelli & Payne (eds)(2005). Social work futures. Crossing boundaries, transforming practice. Palgrave Macmillan

Amaro (2008). Os campos paradigmáticos do Serviço Social: proposta para uma categorização das teorias em presença. In Locus Social 1, 65-80

Banks & Nohr(coord) (2008) Ética Prática para as Profissões do Trabalho Social. Porto Ed

Barsky (2010). Ethics and Values in Social Work. Univ. Press

Dominelli (2004). Social Work:theory and practice for a changing profession. Polity Press

Gray & Webb (ed)(2013) Social Work. Theories and methods. 2nd ed. Sarah Gibson

Mouro (2009). Modernização do Serviço Social. Almedina

Payne &Reith-Hall (ed)(2019). The Routledge Handbook of Social Work Theory. Routledge

Reamer (2006). Social Work Values and Ethics. Columbia Un Press

Webb(2006). Social Work in a Risk Society: Social and political perspectives. Palgrave Macmillan

Thompson& Stepney(ed)(2018). Social Work Theory and methods. The essentials. Routledge