Moral dilemmas in outreaching social work: case of Lithuania in an international perspective
ENThe article presents the international qualitative research on moral dilemmas of social workers working with clients who are in deep social exclusion (outreaching). The research was undertaken in four European countries (Estonia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Germany). This article is based on the findings of Lithuanian research. The article is composed of six parts: in the first two the context of the research and theoretical overview of social work dilemmas is presented, in the third part the research method is described, the research results are further presented and discussed followed by a conclusion. The empirical research revealed that social workers, who try to help those persons who are outside the system of social work and often do not realize their own problems, encounter a few inner contradictions, which can be considered moral dilemmas of this professional activity. Morai dilemmas emerge not only in the relationship between a social worker and his potential client, but also in the relationship of a social worker with the institution / organization in which he/she works. Dilemmas in different countries differ, however there are two distinctive dilemmas which encompass the others: a permanent balancing between "closeness and distance" and the dilemma of "help and control" functions. There are also several differences in dilemmas articulated by social workers in Eastern and Western European countries; however, this assumption must be verified with additional research. The research presented in the article spotlights the moral nature of social work profession and the need for deeper reflection on this subject on scientific as well as practical level.
