stdClass Object
(
    [id] => 15608
    [paper_index] => 202504-01-020981
    [title] => PROMOTING AND MAINTAINING THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF A CASE MANAGER: AN ETHICAL DILEMMA
    [description] => 
    [author] => Daniel Betco Tutor, Dr. Annbeth B. Calla
    [googlescholar] => 
    [doi] => 
    [year] => 2025
    [month] => April
    [volume] => 11
    [issue] => 4
    [file] => fm/jpanel/upload/2025/April/202504-01-020981.pdf
    [abstract] => This study explores the ethical dilemmas encountered by case managers working under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Davao del Norte, Philippines. Positioned at the frontline of social welfare service delivery, case managers often find themselves navigating the challenging intersection of institutional mandates, professional ethics, and community dynamics. Anchored in utilitarianism, deontology, and social contract theory, the research seeks to identify the recurring ethical conflicts experienced by case managers, examine how these are managed, and derive implications for practice and policy reform.
Employing a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study gathered insights from nine purposively selected case managers with at least three years of experience in the 4Ps program. Through in-depth interviews, five major themes emerged: (1) the difficulty in reconciling professional responsibilities with personal values; (2) the emotional toll of ethical decision-making; (3) threats to personal safety resulting from ethical enforcement; (4) professional commitment and moral resilience; and (5) the pressing need for institutionalized ethics support and psychosocial care.
Findings reveal that while case managers demonstrate strong dedication to ethical practice, they are often burdened by bureaucratic rigidity, community backlash, and emotional fatigue. Despite the challenges, participants emphasized the value of supervisory support, ethical training, peer debriefing, and reflective practice as coping mechanisms. The study underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms that include continuous ethics education, mental health interventions, and stronger safety protocols for field workers.
By centering the voices of grassroots social workers, this research contributes to the understanding of how ethical practice is negotiated in real-world contexts. It calls for a paradigm shift in social work governance that aligns ethical standards with the lived realities of service delivery. It equips case managers with the tools, support, and discretion they need to act in the best interests of both clients and the profession.

    [keywords] => Ethical Dilemmas, Professional Standards, Case Management, Social Work Ethics, 4Ps Program, DSWD, Phenomenological Research, Utilitarianism, Deontology, Social Contract Theory, Frontline Social Work
    [doj] => 2025-04-14
    [hit] => 
    [status] => 
    [award_status] => P
    [orderr] => 53
    [journal_id] => 1
    [googlesearch_link] => 
    [edit_on] => 
    [is_status] => 1
    [journalname] => EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR)
    [short_code] => IJMR
    [eissn] =>  2455-3662 (Online)
    [pissn] => - --
    [home_page_wrapper] => images/products_image/11.IJMR.png
)
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