The risk of professionalization of social work in Spain
Keywords:
social work, de-professionalization, precariousness, bureaucracy, standardization.
Abstract
This article relates de-professionalization theory to the current state of social work in Spain. De-professionalization refers to the process of erosion of the monopoly on knowledge as a consequence of loss of professional autonomy and authority. The conceptual elements of this theory are applied to social work and five factors that impact on the de-professionalization process are studied: a) the policy of precariousness in the provision of social services; b) the increasing precariousness of the job market; c) the bureaucratization of the professional field and activity; d) the codification and standardization of intervention; and e) fragmentation of the knowledge process. Bases are established to comprehend the risks that social work faces as a profession, and professional autonomy is emphasized from the perspective of ethics and reinforcement of scientific foundations.Format
Crossmark
Published
2018-01-08
How to Cite
Hernández Echegaray, A. (2018). The risk of professionalization of social work in Spain. Cuadernos de Trabajo Social, 31(1), 139-152. https://doi.org/10.5209/CUTS.54344
Section
Miscellanous
License
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