Social Work as sociopedagogic project of formation: patterned rationalization or reflexive management of the case and work field

Abstract

The suspicion expressed by some professionals that academic knowledge doesn’t contribute in a substantial way to the practical capability in the area of Social Work, together with the historical conflict of concepts between Social Service, Social Work and Social Pedagogy makes us reforce the pedagogical elements that always accompanied the aims of that area. In order to turn the clients in situation of risk capable to be the agents of their own life, it would be necessary to perceive Social Service - because of its task to reintegrate the individuals into their social networks - as a project of formation, that concentrates its efforts in the particular cases, its biographic reconstruction and in the development of appropriate methodological instruments.

Key words – Social Work. Social Pedagogy. Project of formation.