This article examines the role of social work as a key player within the Third Sector of Social Action (TSAS, from the Spanish), emphasising its origins in the social movements of the latter half of the 20th century. These movements emerged as a civic response to the profound structural transformations of the industrial era, which generated new and complex social needs. The TSAS served as a channel for collective demands, progressively gaining relevance until it came to influence social, scientific and political discourse. Comprising non-profit, voluntary and autonomous organisations, this sector has consolidated its position as a bridge between the State and civil society.
The social movement underpinning the TSAS has evolved from an advocacy- and welfare-oriented role towards a process of professionalization in which social work occupies a central place within these organisations. Social workers not only provide direct care and support, they also engage in complex tasks related to planning, management, evaluation and leadership—contributing an integrative, scientific and technical perspective that is essential for achieving the sector’s social objectives.
Social work education equips professionals to address complex social problems holistically while meeting the sector’s growing demands for quality, transparency and efficiency. Moreover, social workers play a strategic role in social transformation and in shaping public policy from an inclusive and participatory standpoint.
In conclusion, this article calls for the strengthening of the identity of social work within the TSAS, acknowledging its unique capacity to integrate social intervention and organisational management—an essential combination for the sustainability and social impact of the sector.
