It has been acknowledged that Child Protection System professionals may face ethical and moral dilemmas regarding their work with the children/youth and families. Within this field of work, Residential care staff often cope with complex and stressful events in challenging professional and organizational contexts, while providing care to children and youth with demanding needs. However, to our knowledge, no studies have specifically focused on the ethical tensions faced by residential care staff in their roles both as professionals within a specific social and organizational context, and as “surrogate parents” to the children and youth in care. The present qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with 20 residential care professionals to explore the challenging events and tensions they face at work, and their educational values and expectations towards the children and youth in care. Preliminary results of the ongoing exploratory study will be presented. Thematic analysis will allow for identifying major themes on this issue and generate inputs for further research, aiming to improve staff training and inform policy and practice on residential care services.

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residential care,staff,dilemmas,values,expectations