Evaluation in the process of professionalization of social work

There has been a long-standing discussion in Poland about the efficient and effective functioning of the social welfare and integration system. The transformations it has been undergoing for years in connection with the possibilities of benefiting from the EU funds and as a results of its attempted reforms and rationalisation demonstrate that the issue of professionalising the social worker profession is actually of little interest to anybody, despite the fact that this is a regulated profession with quite a strong presence in the current scientific discourse. If performed in a professional manner, methodical social work is a very important tool which may significantly contribute to increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of social interventions, thereby improving the quality of the public sphere in this segment. In this context, an important role is played by evaluation, understood as analysing the value of a specific action – with reference to social projects and programmes. Of particular importance here is the latest generation evaluation, which makes use of action research, thereby increasing the chances to raise the level of social participation and simultaneously reduce the problem of social exclusion. On the other hand, it is necessary to note the crucial role that evaluation may play in reinforcing and sustaining the professional identity of social workers, especially in the face of the constant changes and reforms of the social welfare system