1. Social Work education and profession in Spain
Tomasa Báñez
University of Zaragoza (Spain)

2. Social Work education and profession in Spain
The main idea of my presentation: Spanish social work has not finished the process of professionalization
Consequences over
Social work education
Position of social work and social workers
Challenges

3. Process of professionalization
The process of professionalization of the Spanish social work has not finished, because
Social work is a younger profession than in other European countries
Spanish welfare system is weaker than in other European countries

4. Why social work is a younger profession than in other countries?
Because the Spanish social and political context
Spain was a more traditional country than other European countries (political, economic and socially)
Consequences: Material conditions of life and mentalities of people
Political and social atmosphere allowed the birth of the first Spanish social work school in the city of Barcelona in 1932
Civil War of 1936 and Military dictatorship caused the lost of political rights and the spread of poverty

5. The birth of the profession
Social work profession was born in Spain much later than in other European countries in the 40s and 50s of the XX century, as a consequence of the charity organization process with the born of Cáritas
As it had occurred in other countries, the organization of the charity took place because two reasons
The social needs changed
The ideological conception of poverty also changed

6. Organization of the charity
The social needs changed as a consequence of the Civil War ( ) and of the process of industrialization and urbanization (50s and 60s) causing the increase of
The number of poor people and
The kind of social problems
The ideological conception of poverty and the ways to meet poverty changed
To meet the material needs of poor people, was nor enough
It was also necessary to control and moralise them

7. The first years of the social work profession in Spain
Female activity
Interest of the Church
Interest of women
S W was more a voluntary activity than a profession
There was not a salary
nor job timetables

8. The first students of social work in Zaragoza

9. Social work education 50s: several schools were created by
The Catholic Church: Caritas
The Sección Femenina
60s: official recognition to social work education
The curricula were influenced by
Catholic Church: religious bias
Sección Femenina: ideas of National Catholicism and fascism
The first Spanish social work education
A lot of practical placements, little theoretical social work
and much content about social topics with a religious bias

10. Spanish welfare system is weaker than in other European countries
To meet the material needs of poor people was more a responsibility of the catholic church than a government duty, until 1978 when our first modern democratic constitution created welfare system: education, health, pensions and personal social services
Family and within them women were responsible to look after dependent people

11. Professionalisation of social work
Changes in the Spanish social policy have influenced the professionalization process of social work with effects over
Education of social work
Position of social work and social workers
Challenges of social work

12. Changes in the Spanish social policy
Spanish Constitution of 1978
Welfare state was officially born
Increase in job’s opportunities
Improvement in the contract and salary conditions
More access to responsible posts
Spanish liberal policies since 1996
Reduction in the social budget and in the social work jobs caused the contract, salary and working conditions worsened
New law to improve the looking after of dependent people
About 2 million people in all
Since the 1st of January 2007
The law could increase job’s opportunities for social workers

13. Social work education
As a consequence of the birth or the welfare state in Spain and the changes in our educational system
Social work was recognised as a university degree in the 80s with a curriculum focused on
Methodological knowledge
Management of economic benefits
Since the 90s we have a new curriculum
More theoretical knowledge, but little application to the professional profile
Important increase in the number students: 250 new students each year at the University of Zaragoza
And change in their motivations to study social work: in % of students had chosen social work as their 1st option

14. Current social work curricula
University Diploma: three years
Secondary education and a general entrance examination
18,000 students of social work in Spain
34 schools in Spain
The University of Zaragoza qualifies about 100 social workers each year

15. Subjects Curriculum: theory, skills and attitudes
The theory: big groups of students: 90
Society: sociology, economy, law, public health and social anthropology
The individual psychology and philosophy
Interpersonal relationships: social psychology
Social policy and personal social services
Social work: basic concepts, history, theories and methodology
Instrumental subjects: foreign languages and data processing
Practical training
At the university in small groups of students: 20
Practical placements: in Spain and abroad

16. Postgraduate education
Three years training is insufficient
Students continue their education: 26.6%
Other university studies: sociology or anthropology: 11%
Postgraduate courses: 15.6%
Community Work
Social Work in Mental Health
Gender relations
Social Gerontology
Mediation
Family therapy
Management of social economy companies

17. Position of social work
National Association of Social Workers with about 22,000 members
The association is member of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)
Spanish code of ethics
Representation in front of the official bodies: national and regional governments

18. Labour market Employers: Fields of welfare: State
Regional or local governments
Nongovernmental organizations
Private social service institutions
Fields of welfare:
Personal social services: 63.79%
Health: 10.74%
Education and culture: 6.74%
Housing and urban development
Employment
Minimal income support

19. Target groups for social workers
Elderly people
Disabled people
Children and families
Young people
Women
Immigrants
Gypsy people
Drug abusers, etc

20. What do social workers?
More management of public economic benefits than psychosocial help: risk of bureaucratization specially in personal social services
Due to the lack of public services and resources, to fulfil needs of dependent people, social workers mobilise the clients’ and their families’ resources
Spanish social workers are giving support to women who care of dependent people in their families setting up for example, social support groups and self-help groups with the aims of
Giving them further information about the illness and how to treat dependent people
teaching them how to deal with the difficult behaviour of the elderly people
and how to control anxiety using breathing and relaxing techniques
While the carers are attending these support groups, a professional carer is looking after the ill person

21. Deficits of the profession
High unemployment: 44.40% of the affiliated social workers are unemployed
The profession is not well known neither recognised: little presence in the media and the official bodies
Lack of professional authority
Little professional supervision
Little practical placement for students
Lack of control of social work training: selection process of students and teachers

22. Challenges of social work
To improve our university training: Bologna's Process can be an opportunity to do it
To improve the further training and professional supervision
To publish the results of social research on social work
To meet new social situations and needs like intercultural relations, eaten disorders, bullying, violence against women
To improve the team work with other social professions like social educators
To get a greater presence in society, in the media and in the official bodies
To deal with the new law to improve the looking after of dependent people

23. New Law to look after dependent people
Family care is being affected by social changes
Firstly, there are more elderly people and they live longer
Secondly, because they live longer they suffer more degenerative illness, like dementia or Alzheimer, and they are more dependent.
Finally, there are an increasing number of women who decide to have a professional life and not to be only housewife
This new law will have the financial support from the national government, the regional governments and the families
Public social services (residential, home and daily) for dependent people will be improved
As well as the financial support to the families
and within them to the women who are in charge of looking after dependent people

24. References
Báñez, Tomasa, 2004, “Spain. Social Work profession and education”, in Campanini, Ana María and Frost, Elizabeth, European Social Work. Commonalities and differences, Roma, Carocci
Báñez, T. Y Ehlert G., 2005, “Gender and social work. Influences of gender on the process of professionalization in Frost, Elizabeth (Ed) Children, young people and families. Examining social work practice in Europe, Roma, Carocci

25. For further information
Tomasa Báñez
Escuela Universtiaria de Estudios Sociales
University of Zaragoza (Spain)

26. Discussion Is social work a female profession in Sweden?
Are there any special process of selection of the Swedish social work students before starting to study social work?
If so, How important is motivation in this process?
Do Swedish social workers have an important presence in the media and the official bodies?
How is the relationship between social workers and other social professions in Sweden?