Technological innovations are related to information and communication technologies (ICTs), which in turn have become a fundamental pillar in the field of education. Social work professionals require new approaches to take on the new type of work demanded by the digital society, specializing in research into the innovation of these new forms of action through technology. This article analyses whether university training is in tune with the new skills and abilities required for professional interventions in the twenty-first century. A total of 288 surveys were carried out on 309 students. Each survey consisted of 25 questions on the five digital skills areas. The results indicate that training in digital skills must gain space in university training plans, just as the pandemic became a starting point for the massive use of ICTs. The conclusions point to the importance of improving training in digital competences and skills for future generations of social workers, who, although they are digital natives, will need to know how to use ICTs in their social work.

This paper presents a theoretical reflection on e-social work by considering a case study: an intervention programme with vulnerable people, included in the services catalogue of a non-governmental organization (NGO), Zaragoza Red Cross Assembly. This programme cares for older people with a home assistance system mediated by information and communication technologies (ICTs). The digital convergence of the Spanish Red Cross and the digitalization of internal processes were accelerated by the use of ICTs as a tool in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis: first, to manage bureaucratic matters; second, to coordinate professionals and third, to interact with users. The text is divided into five sections including an introduction and final remarks. The first section describes the intervention programme and its evolution from a traditional social work vision to an e-social work perspective. The second section describes and analyses the intervention programme and the incorporation of ICTs in this NGO, over more than two decades. The third section describes professional contributions to the implementation and adaptation of social work to new social and technological circumstances and users’ requirements based on these intervention experiences.

En el presente artículo se hace una reflexión sobre la importancia de las redes sociales y el capital social en la integración de las personas inmigrantes. Tras revisar los conceptos de integración, redes y capital social, se analiza la importancia de las redes sociales como proveedoras de recursos que ayudan en todo el proceso migratorio. Se concluye manifestando que las redes son una herramienta más para apoyar la integración, y que además de efectos positivos, puede existir también algún efecto negativo que debe ser tenido en cuenta.

Presentamos los resultados de una investigación documental sobre las experiencias de Trabajo Social Comunitario en la regeneración urbana de zonas vulnerables en las ciudades españolas de Alicante, Barcelona y Sant Adrià de Besòs. El método utilizado ha comprendido la revisión de experiencias que cumplieran los siguientes requisitos: hayan ocurrido durante las últimas dos décadas, que el Trabajo Social Comunitario haya tenido un papel significativo y estén suficientemente documentadas. La comparación de las experiencias se hizo a través de variables como vulnerabilidad urbana, tipología de actores participantes, estructura organizativa, mecanismos de participación y relaciones de poder según el Modelo de Conjuntos de Acción. Los resultados afirman, entre otras cosas, que los planes de regeneración urbanística liderados por las administraciones públicas suelen caracterizarse por estructuras rígidas y verticales, mientras que los planes liderados por las organizaciones sociales del territorio se caracterizan por estructuras más flexibles y horizontales.This article presents the results of documentary research about the experiences of Community Social Work in urban regeneration in vulnerable areas. Spanish cities as Alicante, Barcelona and Sant Adrià de Besòs. The method used has included the review of experiences that meet the following requirements: have occurred during the last two decades, that Community Social Work has played a significant role and that these cases were sufficiently documented. The analysis included variables such as urban vulnerability, types of actors involved, organizational structure, mechanisms of participation and power relations on the model of action sets. The results say that urban regeneration plans led by local government are characterized by rigid and vertical structures. The plans led by social organizations of the territory are characterized by more flexible and horizontal structures.