Professionalization of Romanian public social work services: An impossible challenge?

Abstract

The article aims at analysing the state of the professionalization in social work system, identifying the main factors of the low share of specialists, particularly social workers, in public social work services. Successive surveys investigating the professionalization of social work in Romania show that the share of specialised social workers in total of staff in public social services is increasing very slow, while the gap between the total of graduates in social work and employed social workers in public and private social services providers is increasing. The article tries to explain the main reasons of the lack of professionals in public social services, particularly at primary level. Another objectives is to analyse the main strategic documents that aims to increase the share of the specialised professionals at community level and to contribute to the development of public services, particularly in rural area. The article ends with an analyse of the main weakness and risks of these strategic plans.