Person Centred Learning Network – ‘Between Policy and a hard place’
How do we doing the right thing even when the ‘system’ won’t let you.
Moral distress, moral injury & everyday ethical tension
What happens when you ‘know’ what good care looks like, but policies, time, targets or resources make it impossible?
This session explores ‘moral distress – that quiet, cumulative erosion professionals feel when they are repeatedly prevented from acting in line with their values. We’ll look at how this shows up in health, care and the voluntary sector, how it differs from burnout, and what helps people stay ethically intact without carrying the whole system on their shoulders.
We’ll explore:
* The difference between stress, burnout and moral injury
* How “just following process” can slowly damage professional identity
* Practical ways to name, share and ease moral distress
* What leaders, teams and organisations can do (and what they can’t)
For anyone who’s gone home thinking: “That wasn’t good enough – and it wasn’t my fault… but it still hurts.”