Social work is an essential part of the welfare structures of contemporary democratic societies. Its history as a profession dates back to the 19th century, although its academic implementation in higher education is much more recent.

It is clearly an emerging discipline, even more so with the development of the European Higher Education Area. Social work is also a professional discipline that has become an essential reference for the public system of social services created with the Spanish democracy in the 1980s.

Social workers perform functions aimed at providing social diagnoses and reports, which are exclusive instruments of social work. These functions are aim to identify the strengths and social risk factors for health promotion, disease prevention and social health intervention of individuals, families, groups and communities as active subjects in their treatment, recovery and rehabilitation.

In general, activities that promote social inclusion should be encouraged in all healthcare and professional areas of health centres.