Digital competences and technological tools in Social Services professionals in Andalusia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30827/tsg-gsw.v15.30661Keywords:
Quantitative analysis, Digital divide, Digital competences, Social Intervention, Social Services, Information and communication technologies (ICT), Digital transformationAbstract
Introduction. The technological evolution of recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, has transformed social relations and, consequently, the interaction between professionals and users of social services. The main objective of this article is to analyze the digital competences and the use of technological tools in professionals who take part in the Social Services System (SSSS) in Andalusia. Methods. Through a questionnaire applied to 293 professionals in the social field, mostly middle-aged women with a consolidated professional career, we evaluate their level of digital competences and the use of different technologies in their professional practice. Results. The results obtained allow us to identify the degree of knowledge of social services about digital competences and tools in a first descriptive analysis. The results indicate that, in general terms, social services have an adequate level of digital competences which perform their work. However, the results reflect that older staff and those with more seniority in the organizations tend to show a lower level of digital competences. Likewise, areas for improvement are identified such as the use of data visualization or analytical tools and the understanding of licenses for the use of digital content. Discussion and conclusions. The conclusion point that might need a further study of this topic in order to address the areas of greatest vulnerability and establish professional profiles to optimize the allocation of tasks, would improve efficiency and ensure that services are adjusted to the changing needs of the user population in the digital era. Finally, the study recognizes certain limitations, as the possible bias in the self-assessment of the level of digital competences due to the formulation of the questionnaire, as it was structured with broad, relatively generic and basic questions, and the online application modality, which could have excluded professionals with less technological familiarity.
Downloads
References
Barrera-Algarín, E., Sarasola-Sánchez-Serrano, J.L., Sarasola-Fernández, A., y Vallejo-Andrada, A. (2022). Escala de Aceptación Tecnológica en Trabajadores Sociales: Ventajas en el uso de las tecnologías de teletrabajo. Acciones e Investigaciones Sociales, 43, 91-123. https://doi.org/10.26754/ojs_ais/accioninvestigsoc.2022437423 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26754/ojs_ais/accioninvestigsoc.2022437423
Berg-Weger, M., & Morley, J.E. (2020). Loneliness and social isolation in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for gerontological social work. The journal of nutrition, health & aging, 24(5), 456-458. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-020-1366-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-020-1366-8
Betancur-Chicué, V., Goméz-Ardila, S.E., Cárdenas-Rodríguez, Y.P., Hernández-Gómez, S.A., Galindo-Cuesta, J.A., y Cadrazco-Suárez, M.A. (2023). Instrumento para la identificación de competencias digitales docentes: Validación de un instrumento basado en el DigCompEdu en la Universidad de la Salle, Colombia. Revista Prisma Social, (41), 27-46. https://revistaprismasocial.es/article/view/4970
Byrne, J., & Kirwan, G. (2019). Relationship-based social work and electronic communication technologies: anticipation, adaptation and achievement. Journal of Social Work Practice, 33(2), 217-232. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2019.1604499 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2019.1604499
Buchanan, E.A., & Hvizdak, E. E. (2009). Online survey tools: Ethical and methodological concerns of human research ethics committees. Journal of empirical research on human research ethics, 4(2), 37-48. https://doi.org/10.1525/jer.2009.4.2.37 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/jer.2009.4.2.37
Castellano Díaz, R., Martín, J.C., y Alemán, P.F. (2022, noviembre 17-18). El papel de las competencias digitales en el Trabajo Social: un análisis de las líneas de investigación [Actas de Congresos]. IX Jornadas Iberoamericanas de Innovación Educativa en el ámbito de las TIC y las TAC: InnoEducaTIC 2022, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España.
Castellanos, J. (2020). La gestión de la información en el paradigma algorítmico: inteligencia artificial y protección de datos. MÉI: Métodos de Información, 11(21), 42-58. https://doi.org/10.5557/IIMEI11-N21-042058 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5557/IIMEI11-N21-059082
Castillo de Mesa, J., y Méndez, P. (2021). Hacia la disrupción digital del trabajo social. Aranzadi.
Codina, T. (2020). Per què la intel· ligència artificial transformarà els serveis socials. RTS: Revista de treball social, (219), 85-98.
Decreto 58/2022, de 27 de abril, por el que se regula la estructura, uso, acceso, alcance y funciones del sistema CoheSSiona, por el que se implementa la Historia Social Única Electrónica de Andalucía, y se crea el sistema ProgreSSa para la gestión de los Servicios Sociales comunitarios de Andalucía. Boletín Oficial de la Junta de Andalucía, 82, de 3 de mayo de 2022. https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/boja/2022/82/5
Díaz de Mera, E. (2025). Antonio López Peláez y Gloria Kirwan (Eds.). The Routledge International Handbook of Digital Social Work. New York: Routledge, 2023. Revista CENTRA de Ciencias Sociales, 4(1), 243-248. https://doi.org/10.54790/rccs.121 DOI: https://doi.org/10.54790/rccs.121
Dieste, J.M. (2020). Las plataformas colaborativas como oportunidad para la innovación social. REVESCO. Revista de estudios cooperativos, (133), e67338 https://doi.org/10.5209/reve.67338 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5209/reve.67338
Duque, M.E. (2013). Resistencia al cambio en organizaciones modernas. Scientia et technic, 18(1), 149-157. https://doi.org/10.22517/23447214.7159
Fernández-Riquelme, S. (2019). Conocer, integrar y divulgar. Las tecnologías digitales para la investigación y la intervención en Trabajo Social. Trabajo Social Hoy, 88, 43-68. http://doi.org/10.12960/TSH.2019.0015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.12960/TSH.2019.0015
Ferri, E. (2023). Una revisión sistematizada sobre el impacto de la tecnología en la relación de los/as usuarios/as con los Servicios Sociales. En O. Vázquez y M. Fernández. (Eds.), Los servicios sociales ante el reto de la innovación: participación, tecnologías e investigación (pp. 83-106). Tirant lo Blanch.
Fronek, P., & Rotabi-Casares, K.S. (Eds.). (2022). Social work in health emergencies: Global perspectives. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003111214
Fundación iSocial (2023). Banco de innovaciones. https://isocial.cat/es/banco-de-innovaciones/
García-Castilla, F.J., y Vírseda-Sanz, E. (2016). Inclusión de competencias digitales en los estudios de grado en Trabajo Social. Opción, 32(9), 802-820. https://produccioncientificaluz.org/index.php/opcion/article/view/21776
Goldkind, L. (2021). Social Work and Artificial Intelligence: Into the Matrix. Social Work, 66(4), 372-374.https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swab028 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swab028
Helsper, E.J. (2012). A corresponding fields model for the links between social and digital exclusion. Communication theory, 22(4), 403-426. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2012.01416.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2012.01416.x
Hodge, H., Carsdon, D., Carson, D., Newman, L., & Garret, J. (2017). Internet technologies in rural communities to access services: The views of older people and service providers. Journal of Rural Studies, 54, 469-478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.06.016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.06.016
Ingham, B., Riley, J., Nevin, H., Evans, G., & Gair, E. (2013). An initial evaluation of direct care staff resilience workshops in intellectual disabilities services. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 17(3), 214-222. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744629513494642 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1744629513494642
Iniesta-Alemán, I., Segura-Anaya, A., y Mancho-De la Iglesia, A.C. (2020). Las competencias digitales como recurso intangible en la empresa. Revista Prisma Social, (29), 155-171.https://revistaprismasocial.es/article/view/3587
Kanani, K., & Regehr, C. (2003). Clinical, ethical, and legal issues in e-therapy. Families in Society, 84(2), 155-162. http://dx.doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.98 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.98
Levy, B. (2009). Stereotype embodiment: A psychosocial approach to aging. Current directions in psychological science, 18(6), 332-336. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2009.01662.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2009.01662.x
López-Peláez, A., Marcuello-Servós, C., Castillo de Mesa, J., & Almaguer Kalixto, P. (2020). The more you know, the less you fear: Reflexive social work practices in times of COVID-19. International Social Work, 63(6), 746-752. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872820959365 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872820959365
López-Peláez, A., Erro-Garcés, A., & Gómez-Ciriano, E.J. (2020). Young people, social workers and social work education: The role of digital skills. Social Work Education, 39(6), 825-842. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2020.1795110 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2020.1795110
Macías, M., Tamayo, M. y Cerda, M. (2019). Resistencia al cambio en las organizaciones: Propuesta para minimizarlo. Palermo Business Review, (19), 39-53.
Mayer, J.D., Salovey, P., & Caruso, D.R. (2000). Emotional intelligence as zeitgeist, as personality, and as a mental ability. In R. Bar-On & J.D.A. Parker (Eds.), The handbook of emotional intelligence: Theory, development, assessment, and application at home, school, and in the workplace (pp. 92-117). Jossey-Bass/Wiley. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511807947.019
Minguijón, J., y Serrano-Martinez, C. (2022). La Inteligencia Artificial en los Servicios Sociales: estado de la cuestión y posibles desarrollos futuros. Cuadernos de Trabajo Social, 35(2), 319-329. https://doi.org/10.5209/cuts.78747 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5209/cuts.78747
Ministerio de Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital. (2021). Plan de Digitalización de las Administraciones Públicas 2021-2025. https://administracionelectronica.gob.es/pae_Home/pae_Estrategias/Plan_Digitalizacion_AAPP.html
Montalba-Ocaña, C. (2017). La identidad de la diversidad funcional en la comunicación mediada por la tecnología. Trabajo Social Global-Global Social Work, 7(13), 51-72. https://doi.org/10.30827/tsg-gsw.v7i13.5701 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30827/tsg-gsw.v7i13.5701
Morilla-Luchena, A., Borrego-Alés, Y., Orgambídez-Ramos, A., & Vázquez-Aguado, O. (2021). Quality of Working Life among Social Services Professionals in Spain: Analysis of the Psychosocial Factors Determining a Good Working Climate. Journal of Social Service Research, 47(4), 506-521. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2020.1845906 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2020.1845906
Morilla-Luchena, A., Chaves-Montero, A., & Vázquez-Aguado, O. (2021). Situación de los servicios sociales y orientaciones de la política social en España para afrontar la crisis de la covid-19. En C.V. Zambrano (Coord.), Las políticas sociales que vendrán (pp. 315-332). Thomson Reuters Aranzadi.
Morilla-Luchena, A., Férnandez-Borrero, M. A.., Muñoz-Moreno, R., & Ferry-Fuentevilla, E. (2023). Posible utilidad de un modelo de lenguaje por inteligencia artificial para la gestión de prestaciones de servicios sociales. En M. García y Y. de la Fuente (Dirs.), Innovación social y digitalización al servicio de la ciudadanía: nuevas metodologías aplicadas al aprendizaje y la práctica profesional del trabajo social (pp. 55-73). Thomson Reuters Aranzadi.
Morilla-Luchena, A., Gómez-Rasco, T., Moreno, R.M., & Vázquez-Aguado, O. (2025). Design of strategies for the process of digitalisation and technological modernisation in social services organisations. Cuadernos de Trabajo Social, 38(1), 37-60. https://doi.org/10.5209/cuts.96376 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5209/cuts.96376
Muñoz-Moreno, R., Fernández-Borrero, M., Ferri-Fuentevilla, E., Relinque-Medina, F., Morilla-Luchena, A., & Vázquez-Aguado, O. (2023). Technologies and social services. An overview of technology use by users of social services. Plos One 18(5), e0284966. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284966. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284966
Muñoz-Moreno, R., Morilla-Luchena, A.; Burgos-Serrano, E. & Vázquez-Aguado, O. (2020). Colectivos vulnerables, servicios sociales y Covid-19: Una aproximación a la realidad española. En E. Barrera y J.L. Sarasola (Coords.), Investigaciones desde el trabajo social (pp. 285-296). Thomson Reuters Aranzadi.
Muilenburg, L.Y., & Berge, Z.L. (2005). Student barriers to online learning: A factor analytic study. Distance education, 26(1), 29-48. https://doi.org/10.1080/0158791050008126 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01587910500081269
Nordesjö, K., & Scaramuzzino, G. (2023). Digitalization, stress, and social worker–client relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Social Work, 23(6), 1080-1098. https://doi.org/10.1177/14680173231180309 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/14680173231180309
Nordesjö K., Scaramuzzino G., & Ulmestig R. (2022). The social worker–client relationship in the digital era: A configurative literature review. European Journal of Social Work, 25(2), 303-315. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2021.1964445 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2021.1964445
Pacheco-Mangas, J., Palma-García, M., y Hombrados-Mendieta, I. (2020). Resiliencia y cultura organizacional de los servicios sociales en la era de la digitalización. Revista Prisma Social, (29), 123-137. https://revistaprismasocial.es/article/view/3603
Parton, N. (2009). Challenges to practice and knowledge in child welfare social work: From the “social” to the “informational”? Children and Youth Services Review, 31(7), 715-721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2009.01.008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2009.01.008
Pérez-Eransus, B., & Martínez-Virto, L. (2020). Social work education in Spain: Evaluation and challenges for a new generation of social workers. Social Work Education, 39(6), 750-764. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2020.1724931 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2020.1724931
Reamer, F.G. (2013). Social work in a digital age: Ethical and risk management challenges. Social Work ,58(2), 163-172. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swt003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swt003
Reamer, F.G. (2019). Social work education in a digital world: Technology standards for education and practice. Journal of Social Work Education, 55(3), 420-432. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2019.1567412 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2019.1567412
Relinque-Medina, F., & Álvarez-Pérez, P. (2024). Socio-Digital Challenges for Social Work in the Metaverse. The British Journal of Social Work, 54(5), 2258-2277. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcae032 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcae032
Romero, S. (2022). Incidencia del Burnout en el Trabajo Social en Aragón. Atención Plena y Otras Propuestas de Cuidado en Base a Factores Contextuales [Tesis Doctoral, Universidad de Zaragoza]. https://zaguan.unizar.es/record/145219?ln=es
Santás, J.I. (2016). Proyecto de apropiación de las TIC en Servicios Sociales de atención social primera del Ayuntamiento de Madrid. Cuadernos de Trabajo Social, 29(2), 213-223. https://doi.org/10.5209/CUTS.51835 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5209/CUTS.51835
Smith, M.L., Steinman, L.E., & Casey, E.A. (2020). Combatting social isolation among older adults in a time of physical distancing: the COVID-19 social connectivity paradox. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 403. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00403 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00403
Ter Hoeven, C.L., Van Zoonen, W., & Fonner, K.L. (2016). The practical paradox of technology: The influence of communication technology use on employee burnout and engagement. Communication monographs, 83(2), 239-263. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2015.1133920 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2015.1133920
Torrijos, R., Rosado, M.J., y Lacasa, P. (2021). Las prácticas de digitalización implementadas en las empresas desde los departamentos de Recursos Humanos: análisis crítico del discurso. Revista Prisma Social, (32), 498-525. https://revistaprismasocial.es/article/view/3993
Van Selm, M., & Jankowski, N.W. (2006). Conducting online surveys. Quality and quantity, 40, 435-456. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-005-8081-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-005-8081-8
Xie, B., Charness, N., Fingerman, K., Kaye, J., Kim, M.T., & Khurshid, A. (2020). When going digital becomes a necessity: Ensuring older adults’ needs for information, services, and social inclusion during COVID-19. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 32(4-5), 460-470. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2020.1771237 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2020.1771237
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Teresa Gómez-Rasco, Rocío Muñoz-Moreno, Elena Ferri-Fuentevilla, Ana Vallejo-Andrada, Aleix Morilla-Luchena
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors publishing in this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain their copyright. They guarantee to this journal the right to a first publication of the work submitted to initiate the editorial process.
- Authors know that their work is published under a Creative Commons License which allows others to share it, with a recognition of the work's authorship and its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors share with Global Social Work explotation rights of the work that has been published in this journal, authorizing the execution of a free reproduction, distribution and public communication. Authors know that their work will be stored on servers and reproduced in digital format for inclusion in institutional repositories and databases that will facilitates free access to the full text of the work.
- Authors may distribute the version of the work published in this journal (for example, to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with the explicit acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
Copyright on the texts published in Trabajo Social Global -Global Social Work, as well as editorial policy of the journal refering to self-file and deposit in institutional or thematic repositories, are identified in the database
