L’« institution juste » face à la désinstitutionnalisation dans le secteur social et médicosocial

Abstract

De-institutionalisation in the fields of social work and medical social work in France is a chief concern of the European Union, whose wish it is to ensure support for clients within a perspective that is first and foremost inclusive. This perspective entails questioning the world of the institution in its structural, functional and economic aspects by viewing it as a realm of paradoxes. Thus de-institutionalisation means
bringing into question – once again – the institution’s areas of activity and modes of governance. Stated more simply, the approach questions what does, or does not, make sense within the world of the institution. Allied to this is our ability fully to grasp how de-institutionalisation might lead to improved care for clients; and what possibilities there are for developing positive coherence in treatment between the environment(s) within the institution and the environment(s) without. It is also time to examine the notion of ‘institution juste’ (‘righteous institution’) as the place for the ‘vivre ensemble’ (living together) such as defined by Paul Ricoeur, this questioning promising to be fruitful if resting on the respect of clients' rights.