Social Work in Poland: From the Marginal Position to the Professionalisation of Education and Social Work Practice

Abstract

This chapter provides an in-depth understanding of social work development in various stages in contemporary Poland. The social welfare act of 1990 introduced the obligation for social workers to have vocational training. As a result, several universities started undergraduate and graduate studies in social work. At the same time, postgraduate studies in the field of social welfare organisation and specialisation courses in the profession of social work were launched. The evaluation of education in social work after 1989 shows both the achievements and numerous dysfunctions of this model. The social welfare system in Poland was the subject of many transformations including social work education after 1990. The underlying assumption of the post-communist transformation was the professionalisation of social work through the creation of a public education system for social workers.