Inserción laboral del trabajador social en el ámbito educativo

Abstract

The purpose of this research work is to determine the importance of the labor insertion of the social worker in the educational field, to identify the functions he performs, to analyze the main challenges he faces and to describe the experiences lived by the professionals who are incorporated in this context. The research is developed within a qualitative approach, under an exploratory and descriptive level, which facilitated a detailed understanding of the complex reality from the voice of the professionals. The analytical-synthetic method was applied, complemented by the inductive one, which favored a comprehensive reflection on the role of Social Work in education. The research modality was bibliographic and field. The bibliographic part allowed to theoretically substantiate the central categories of analysis, while the fieldwork was carried out through structured interviews which were applied to fifteen social workers who currently work in educational institutions. The data collection made it possible to identify a series of fundamental functions that these professionals fulfill, including psychosocial accompaniment to students and families, inter-institutional articulation, and the promotion of school coexistence. Likewise, structural challenges such as the lack of institutional recognition, job insecurity and scarce presence in the education system are evident. The findings allow us to conclude that the presence of the social worker in the educational field is essential to comprehensively address the social problems that affect the teaching-learning processes, and provide key elements to consider their formal incorporation into educational policies.