Presence and competences of social workers in Spanish educational centres. Laws vs. reality. A research approach

ABSTRACT

In Spain, School Social Work has had an uneven, non-linear record, with periods of stagnation. This situation still takes place nowadays, partly due to the lack of regulation of their competences and functions, and, above all, due to the fact that the figure of the social worker is not well settled in educational centres yet. The purpose of this article is to find out whether the figure of the social worker has been correctly incorporated into the educational system, as well as to assess the regulation of their competences and functions for the best development of their professional duties. The base of this article is the information obtained from a national ad hoc research, using as data collection technique a structured and self-administered online questionnaire designed by the author and distributed to social workers through 36 professional associations, thanks to the coordination with the Social Work National Council in Spain. Finally, a sample of 146 cases has been obtained. The conclusions show an approximation to the current actual reality of the professional exercise of social workers within the Spanish educational system and, in particular, to the strengths and weaknesses for an effective exercise of their competences and skills according to regulations which include and protect their professional activity.

KEYWORDS:

• Social work
• educational system
• professional activity
• educational levels
• educational centres
• counselling teams

Acknowledgments

This research could not have taken place without the active participation of the Social Work National Council in Spain in coordination with the different professional associations, which I would like to publicly thank for their interest and collaboration.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alfredo Hidalgo Lavié

Alfredo Hidalgo Lavié is Professor of Social Work and Academic Secretary of the Master's Degree in Social Work, Welfare State and Social Intervention Methodologies of the Law School of the UNED.