Abstract:

Social assessment is one of the most important tools of social work. It has maintained its importance as a decisive activity since the first professional implementation of social work as it guides professionals in identifying the problems and needs of client as well as developing a planned intervention. The "needs assessment” is one of the most widely used social assessments in Türkiye in social assistance delivery. It is important to determine the needy level of the clients without stigmatizing and traumatizing them during the needs assessment, which is mostly carried out through home visits. Uncertainties in the criteria and concept of neediness in the legislation, the skills and limitations of the professionals working in the field, the perspective of professionals and managers on social assistance and their reflection on professional practice could make it inevitable to experience ethical dilemmas and problems in this process. This study aims to reveal and analyse ethical dilemmas and problems faced by social workers working in the field of social assistance during social assessment and to provide solutions to them. This study contributes to the literature as it reviews needs assessment as a social assessment and specifically addresses the ethical problems encountered in this process.

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