Professional identity in social work: Achieving balance in an unbalanced context
Social work today is carried out in an increasingly regulated environment, requiring social workers to navigate between organizational demands and their professional values. This can have an impact on their professional identity. In this article, we summarize the findings of two research projects on professional identity in social work in Quebec and identify a common theme: the desire to achieve balance in work environments that are increasingly technically-oriented and standards-governed. We conclude by arguing for a return to virtue ethics, in order to promote an ethical practice rooted in a strong professional identity.