Professional Ethics and Standards in Social Work Practice in Ogun State Welfare Institutions

Professional ethics form the bedrock of social work practice, guiding practitioners in navigating complex value conflicts and protecting the dignity and rights of clients. This study assesses the application of professional ethics and standards in social work practice within welfare institutions in Ogun State, South West Nigeria, with focus on government and NGO welfare service providers in Abeokuta and Sagamu. A mixed-method design is adopted, with 65 qualified social workers surveyed through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis are employed in interpretation. The study finds that many social workers demonstrate sound understanding of ethical principles including client confidentiality, self-determination, and non-discrimination but report significant ethical dilemmas in practice. Tensions between institutional demands and professional ethics are commonly reported, particularly around disclosure of client information to authorities, managing conflicts of interest in small communities, and navigating cultural practices that conflict with professional values. Many respondents express concern about inadequate institutional support for ethical decision-making, including the absence of formal ethics supervision and consultation mechanisms. Recommendations include establishing ethics consultation structures within welfare institutions, integrating ethical decision-making frameworks into ongoing professional development programmes, and strengthening the Social Work Council's role in investigating and adjudicating professional conduct complaints. Keywords: professional ethics, social work standards, welfare institutions, Ogun State, ethical decision-making