Covid and social work in Spain and Italy: From initial uncertainty to operational transformation of services

Abstract

During the pandemic, social services underwent profound transformations, which directly affected both social workers and directly affects both social workers and clients. and the people who use them. They had to adapt quickly, incorporating preventive preventive measures, and adjusting working procedures. This article presents the main results of quantitative research carried out in Spain and replicated in Italy during the Spain, and replicated in Italy during the pandemic. In the survey, conducted between July and October of that year in Italy, involving 214 civil servants in the social services sector. officials working in the public and private social services sectors and 560 in Spain in the and 560 in Spain in April 2020, respectively.

The results show the relevance of the factors that make professionals value the measures adopted both in their services and work. adopted both in their services and in their centers. It also takes into account.

Those directly related to the vulnerable population were also considered. Vulnerable population. The perception of the measures was analyzed, as well as the methodological modifications in the action after the introduction of the measures. methodological modifications in action after the introduction of the changes. changes. The effect on the general public is also considered. All this, given that social services, as a result of this exceptional situation, have undergone and are undergoing relevant changes in their functioning, have undergone and are undergoing significant changes in their functioning and in their responses to the dynamics and and their responses to the dynamics and situations they deal with.

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Author Biographies

Cristiana di Pietro, Universidad de LUMSA

PhD in Civil Economics Sciences. Institutions, History, Law in the Global Society (XXX cycle - scientific disciplinary sector SPS/07) obtained on 13 December 2018 at the Free University
Maria Ss. Assunta (LUMSA), Rome.

Laurea Specialistica in Politica delle Relazioni Internazionali (60/S - D.M.509/1999) obtained on 23 July 2008 at the Libera Università Maria Ss. Assunta (LUMSA), Rome.

Degree in Diplomatic and International Sciences (15/S) obtained on 21 December 2005 at the University of Trieste, Polo Universitario di Gorizia, Gorizia.

Currently working at the Department of Law, Economics, Politics and Modern Languages of the LUMSA University of Rome (Italy). She carries out research activities related to the interrelation between social changes (migration dynamics, population ageing, urbanisation) and the sustainability of welfare policies through the capabilities approach and relational sociology perspectives.

Marinella Sibilla, Universidad de LUMSA

Es profesora  en el sector científico disciplinar SPS/07 en el campus de Lumsa Taranto.

Enseña Política Social y Sistemas de Bienestar Comparados en los cursos de primer y segundo nivel de la licenciatura en trabajo social. Ha impartido docencia en varias ocasiones en cursos de postgrado y de formación avanzada, además de ser miembro del consejo docente y tutor del curso de doctorado en «Servicios educativos, sociales y psicológicos para la adopción internacional» - Ciclo XXII.

Es directora del curso de formación en «Gestor de Búsqueda, Selección y Colocación de Personal», Ciclo II.

Es Presidenta de la Comisión de Docencia de Lumsa sez. Edas de Taranto. Ha sido Profesora Visitante en la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela; en la Katholische Fachhochschule de Friburgo y en la Universidad de Zaragoza.

Ha participado como ponente en numerosos congresos y seminarios internacionales.

Es miembro del comité científico de «Mediterranean Knowledge International Centre for Studies and Research». Es director de «Esperienze sociali» y de la serie «Studi e ricerche sociali» de la editorial Pubblicazioni Italiane, de Treviso.

Entre sus afiliaciones profesionales, es miembro del grupo Sociologia per la persona (SPE); Associazione Italiana di Sociologia (AIS); Ordine Assistenti Sociali - Regione Puglia.

Numerosas actividades de investigación, tanto académicas como por cuenta de organismos públicos, principalmente en el ámbito de las políticas sociales, con especial referencia a la inmigración, las personas mayores, los menores y el medio ambiente.

Folco Cimagalli, Universidad de LUMSA

Professor of general sociology, he studies innovation processes in social policies. He is president of the degree in Social Service and Non-Profit Sciences and participates in the work of the National Conference of Presidents of Social Service Courses.

He teaches Methodology and Techniques of Social Research, Sociology of Migration and Analysis of Deviant Phenomena. From October 2017 until 31 January 2018 he was a Visiting Professor at Instytut Pracy Socjalnej of the Uniwersytet Pedagogiczny Krakowie (Institute of Social Work at the Pedagogical University in Krakow).

He has been involved in numerous research projects both in academia and on behalf of public bodies and non-profit organisations (among others: Ministry of Justice, Lazio Region, Province of Rome, Roma Capitale, CCIAA of Rome).

From 2011 to 2021, he was President of Fondazione Roma Solidale (founding partner: Roma Capitale). From 2011 to 2014, he was a member of the National Observatory of Childhood and Adolescence and of the Technical and Scientific Committee of the National Centre for Documentation and Analysis of Childhood and Adolescence, as well as editor-in-chief of the related journal ‘Cittadini in crescita’.

He is a member of the Scientific Committee and referee for several international scientific journals.

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Published
2025-07-31
How to Cite
Fernández Borrero M. A., di Pietro C. ., Sibilla M. . y Cimagalli F. . (2025). Covid and social work in Spain and Italy: From initial uncertainty to operational transformation of services. Cuadernos de Trabajo Social, 38(2), 489-508. https://doi.org/10.5209/cuts.99675
Section
Articles