Guardianship in social service organizations in the context of right to self-determination

The increasing need for care services for persons with disabilities, the historical transformation of approaches to disability, and the international conventions shaped in this direction have heightened the importance of concepts like autonomy and participation in social life. As a human rights profession, social work addresses the right to self-determination and social participation of persons with disabilities. Institutional care and guardianship practices for persons with disabilities can play a restrictive role in both participation and persons' ability to make their own decisions. This research aims to examine the relationship between guardianship practices encountered in social service organizations providing institutional care services to persons with disabilities and their right to self-determination. The study involved interviews with 28 participants, consisting of professionals and other employees serving as guardians in care and rehabilitation institutions in Istanbul. Maximum variation sampling was used in selecting participants, considering professional diversity and differences in disability/age groups of persons receiving care services. A qualitative method was adopted for the research, and the MAXQDA data analysis program was utilized. In line with the analysis, the main categories formed were: "relationship between ward and guardian", "perception of responsibility of institutional employees", "factors affecting decision-making by persons with disabilities", "decision-making process in institutional care" and "the most appropriate decision-making system". Within the context of a total of 20 subcategories under these main categories, the relationship between institutional care organization and guardianship was discussed in the context of current literature, and solution suggestions were presented. According to the research results, the institutional care organizations' own rules and the legal responsibilities of the institution and its employees can create a structure that hinders individuals' decision-making. The research findings indicate that employees' perceptions, the age/disability group characteristics of the persons with disabilities, and whether the guardian is a relative or an employee lead to the selection of restrictive options on behalf of the persons with disabilities from among the available choices, influenced by the institutional care environment. Accordingly, considering global developments and past practices, it can be stated that changes need to be made to the guardianship system in Turkey, and it is crucial to involve professions working in the field of disability in the policy/legislation development process.