The helping relation and the social action in the university context: the helping interview in the social action programs in Portugal

Abstract

The subject of this article is “The interview of aid in the services of social action”, and it is based on the professional practice as a Social Worker in the Social Services of the University of Algarve, as well as on the research and characterization works developed so far. Considering the goals defined for the social assistance in the university education, we intend to present a reflection on the intervention of the social assistant in what concerns his/her competences related to social action, where we defend the perspective that he/she shouldn’t limit him/herself to the social assistance but must be the facilitator of the process of growth and development of the university student. In this perspective, the interview in the social services should be more than a technical “instrument” used for the attribution of social benefits, it should allow to identify, prevent and support the student in the resolution of his/her psychosocial problems and difficulties, that is to say, it should allow the development of a help relation.

Key words – Aid interview. Social action. University student. Help relation.