The role of Social Work in emergency situations in Spain:
Professional functions, competencies and challenges from an exploratory study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15257/ehquidad.2027.0011Keywords:
Social Work, Emergencies, Psychosocial intervention, Professional competencies, Interinstitutional coordinationAbstract
This exploratory-descriptive study analyses the role of Social Work in emergency situations in Spain, integrating the empirical perspective of professionals with direct experience and an international contextualization of a theoretical nature. Through an ad hoc structured questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions, information was collected from 13 social workers with experience in emergency intervention in Spain. The analysis focused mainly on the professional profile of the participants, the functions performed, the types of emergencies addressed, interinstitutional collaboration, identified challenges, and training needs. The findings suggest that Social Work in emergencies in Spain is characterized by an experienced professional profile and multidimensional functions including needs assessment, psychosocial support, guidance, resource management and coordination with other services. The main challenges identified were insufficient interinstitutional coordination, the lack of specific protocols, and the perception of limited institutional recognition. The study concludes that Social Work occupies a relevant place in emergency response in Spain, although the findings should be interpreted with caution due to the exploratory design, the small sample size, and the non-probabilistic nature of the sample.
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References
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