The Sustainability of Public Social Services: A Qualitative Study

Ángela María Ortega-Galán, Rocío Ortiz-Amo, Elena Andina-Díaz and María Dolores Ruiz-Fernández
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Ángela María Ortega-Galán: Department of Nursing, University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
Rocío Ortiz-Amo: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
Elena Andina-Díaz: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Universidad de León, SALBIS Research Group, EYCC Research Group, 24071 León, Spain
María Dolores Ruiz-Fernández: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: The 2008 global economic crisis heightened social inequality and drastically reduced equal opportunities for many people. It had negative consequences for social regulation in many European countries, which have dismantled their public social policies. The objective of the study was to describe social workers’ perceptions of their lived experiences in different areas of the public social services system. A qualitative study was developed, based on a hermeneutic approach. Six in-depth interviews and two focus groups were conducted with 20 social workers employed by community social services and the Andalusian public health service (Spain). The professionals agreed that the public social services system has been eroded, that the lack of resources has consequences for workers and the general public alike, and that the public authorities and the administration are responsible for this situation. Social services have become distributors of scarce resources rather than a social protection system that empowers and accompanies the most vulnerable. The system must provide the necessary resources and structures so that they can escape the situation of poverty, exclusion and social injustice.

Keywords: social work; social services; public system; professionals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:9:p:3860-:d:355790

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