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Social Sciences
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Contemporary Community Social Services: Issues and Challenges
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Contemporary Community Social Services: Issues and Challenges

A special issue of Social Sciences (ISSN 2076-0760).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2026) | Viewed by 7316

Editors

Dr. Marta García-Domingo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Work, University of Jaen, Campus las Lagunillas s/n, 23071 Jaen, Spain
Interests: social work; social services; social inclusion
Dr. Adrián-Jesús Ricoy-Cano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Work, University of Jaen, Campus las Lagunillas s/n, 23071 Jaen, Spain
Interests: social work; older adults; violence; occupational hazards
Dr. Lucía González López

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Colegio Oficial de Trabajo Social de Jaén, C/Castilla nº4-2ºG, 23007 Jaén, Spain
Interests: social work; innovation; long term care; older adults

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Social Sciences addresses the evolving challenges and transformative opportunities currently faced by community social services. In a context characterized by the complexity of postmodern societies, where there is a growing interconnection between the triggering factors of crisis situations and their consequences (economic, health-related, social, energy, and environmental), responses can no longer be addressed in isolation but must be coordinated and structurally integrated. All of this unfolds within an increasingly diverse demographic and social landscape, where intersectionality emerges as a key analytical framework for understanding the complexity of new social needs and demands, and for offering inclusive and equitable responses. A systematic and coordinated approach is therefore required to confront these challenges comprehensively.

Social protection systems are facing the need to redefine their models of social intervention, moving toward frameworks that are more sustainable, equitable, and resilient. These transformations require a renewed commitment to fostering evidence-based innovation, both scientifically, methodologically, and institutionally, to enhance the quality and impact of care and interventions in community social services.

This Special Issue aims to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and development of community social services through the compilation of empirical studies, systematization of scientific contributions and practical experiences, as well as critical and constructive reflections, in the form of original articles and reviews. Therefore, it seeks to address the current frontier of knowledge from national, regional, or international perspectives.

Submissions must adhere to the Social Sciences author guidelines and must fall under one of the two permitted publication types: original articles or review papers. Authors interested in contributing to this Special Issue are strongly encouraged to submit a provisional title along with a brief description of the proposed topic and methodological approach (between 200 and 300 words) to the guest editors in advance. This preliminary information will help assess the alignment of the proposal with the thematic focus of the issue and facilitate a more efficient and coherent editorial process. Proposals may be sent to any of the guest editors of this Special Issue: Dr. Marta García-Domingo (mgdoming@ujaen.es), Dr. Adrián-Jesús Ricoy-Cano (aricoy@ujaen.es), or Dr. Lucía González López (luciagonzalezlopez87@gmail.com).

Dr. Marta García-Domingo
Dr. Adrián-Jesús Ricoy-Cano
Dr. Lucía González López
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Social Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • community social services
  • social innovation
  • digital transformation
  • quality
  • strategic development
  • occupational hazards
  • professional wellbeing
  • intersectionality
  • governance

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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16 pages, 225 KB  
Article
Organizational Barriers to Access in Community Social Services: Fragmentation, Bureaucratization, Congestion and the Role of Triage
by Joaquín Castillo de Mesa, Paula Méndez-Domínguez and Tania Pérez García
Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(7), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15070483 - 16 Jul 2026
Viewed by 337
Abstract
Community social services play a crucial role as the main gateway to welfare systems. However, increasing demand, organizational complexity, and limited adaptive capacity have generated growing difficulties in ensuring timely and equitable access to support. This study examines the organizational barriers affecting access [...] Read more.
Community social services play a crucial role as the main gateway to welfare systems. However, increasing demand, organizational complexity, and limited adaptive capacity have generated growing difficulties in ensuring timely and equitable access to support. This study examines the organizational barriers affecting access to community social services and explores the role of triage as an organizational innovation. A qualitative case study was conducted at the Community Social Services Centre of Benalmádena City Council (Spain). Data were collected through focus groups, Customer Journey Mapping exercises, and Design Thinking workshops involving social workers, administrative staff, managers, and external experts, and were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that access barriers arise from a systemic configuration of organizational dysfunctions rather than from resource scarcity alone. Six interconnected themes were identified: fragmented access pathways, the absence of prioritization mechanisms, demand duplication and appointment absenteeism, organizational bottlenecks related to professional role distribution, fragmented information systems, and the emergence of triage as an organizational innovation. These factors generate cumulative effects that reduce organizational responsiveness and hinder access to services. The study concludes that triage should be understood as part of a broader process of organizational redesign aimed at improving demand management, prioritization, and coordination, highlighting the need for systemic organizational transformation to enhance access to social services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Community Social Services: Issues and Challenges)
21 pages, 287 KB  
Article
Multilevel Governance, Digitalisation and Institutional Resilience: Towards a Framework for the Sustainability of Community Social Services
by Javier Pacheco-Mangas, Irene Soledad Estrada-Moreno, Ana Laura López-Carlassare and María de las Olas Palma-García
Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(7), 468; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15070468 - 11 Jul 2026
Viewed by 423
Abstract
This article analyses the documentary institutional architecture of community social services in Spain through a comparative study of 15 autonomous communities, with particular attention to the formal conditions of institutional sustainability. Its aim is to examine how multilevel governance, digitalisation and institutional resilience [...] Read more.
This article analyses the documentary institutional architecture of community social services in Spain through a comparative study of 15 autonomous communities, with particular attention to the formal conditions of institutional sustainability. Its aim is to examine how multilevel governance, digitalisation and institutional resilience are articulated in the regional configuration of the system. To this end, a documentary corpus was constructed from three official primary sources: regional social services laws, catalogues or portfolios of benefits and services, and current strategic plans or equivalent instruments. The findings suggest that, at the documentary level, territorial variation is not explained solely by the age of the framework law, but rather by the degree of institutional closure achieved among regulation, the specification of benefits and services, and strategic planning. Autonomous communities with a more complete law–catalogue–plan sequence display more consistent institutional architectures, whereas deficits in any of these links increase documentary and strategic fragmentation. Likewise, digitalisation appears uneven across territories, and its institutional usefulness depends on whether digital tools are integrated into shared information systems and accessible to both professionals and citizens. Institutional resilience is examined through documentary markers such as planning, evaluation, coordination, organisational learning and adaptation mechanisms. The article concludes that, from a documentary institutional perspective, community social services appear more robust when regulation, planning, digital tools and multilevel coordination are articulated in a coherent and stable way. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Community Social Services: Issues and Challenges)
20 pages, 298 KB  
Article
Community Digital Nets: Mutual Support as Key to Tech Appropriation
by David Alonso-González, Juan Brea-Iglesias, Adrián Jesús Ricoy-Cano, Inmaculada Herranz-Aguayo, Raquel Ávila-Muñoz and Andrés Arias-Astray
Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(7), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15070450 - 6 Jul 2026
Viewed by 498
Abstract
This study examines the processes of technology adoption and appropriation among older adults participating in two community-based digital inclusion workshops (LAB65+) in Madrid, exploring how digital technologies are appropriated within community learning environments and identifying the social, relational, and pedagogical factors that shape [...] Read more.
This study examines the processes of technology adoption and appropriation among older adults participating in two community-based digital inclusion workshops (LAB65+) in Madrid, exploring how digital technologies are appropriated within community learning environments and identifying the social, relational, and pedagogical factors that shape this process, with particular attention to the role of mutual support, warm experts, and community learning dynamics. Drawing on a series of workshops and group interaction recordings conducted with regular attendees, the research identifies a set of factors that consistently shape participants’ engagement with digital tools. Particular attention is given to socio-educational background, previous work experience, and prior exposure to technology, as well as to the everyday motivations associated with the use of mobile phones for communication through WhatsApp, online purchasing, access to health services, and routine banking procedures. Across both labs, the findings reveal that successful and sustained engagement with technology among older adults depends less on technical training per se than on elements related to motivation, self-efficacy, meaningful instruction, and the creation or reinforcement of social ties in familiar environments. Although minor differences emerge between the two settings, the evidence consistently underscores the centrality of these relational and contextual factors over purely operational or skill-based considerations. The study highlights the need for community-oriented approaches that recognize and build upon the social dimensions of learning and using technology in later life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Community Social Services: Issues and Challenges)
13 pages, 540 KB  
Article
The Role of Social Work in Supporting Individuals with Epidermolysis Bullosa and Their Families: Community Social Services as the Coordinating Hub
by Juan Manuel Martínez-Ripoll, Marta García-Domingo and Yolanda M. de la Fuente Robles
Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(6), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15060371 - 6 Jun 2026
Viewed by 372
Abstract
Epidermolysis Bullosa is a group of rare genodermatoses characterized by extreme mucocutaneous fragility, significantly affecting the quality of life of those who live with the condition and their families, thereby making integrated and coordinated social work intervention with other health and social care [...] Read more.
Epidermolysis Bullosa is a group of rare genodermatoses characterized by extreme mucocutaneous fragility, significantly affecting the quality of life of those who live with the condition and their families, thereby making integrated and coordinated social work intervention with other health and social care professionals essential. This qualitative descriptive study examines social work practice with individuals with Epidermolysis Bullosa through online open-ended surveys administered to twenty professionals, analyzed using a reflexive thematic approach. The findings reveal key barriers, including the lack of specialized training, the absence of standardized protocols, and administrative complexity, as well as the need to address intersectional factors that exacerbate socioeconomic vulnerability. Despite these challenges, social work intervention contributes to enhancing family autonomy, improving caregiver well-being, and promoting social, educational, and occupational inclusion. The study highlights the importance of strengthening such interventions through interinstitutional coordination, the development of structured protocols, and the central role of community social services. In conclusion, advancing specialized training and consolidating coordination structures may significantly improve the quality of care and the well-being of affected individuals and their families. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Community Social Services: Issues and Challenges)
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20 pages, 497 KB  
Article
From Students to Professionals: Digital Skills in Social Services for the Practice of Social Work
by Teresa Gómez-Rasco, Rocío Muñoz-Moreno, Elena Ferri-Fuentevilla and Octavio Vázquez-Aguado
Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(5), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15050277 - 23 Apr 2026
Viewed by 629
Abstract
The incorporation of digital technologies has transformed Social Work, generating new demands in terms of professional competencies. It is worth questioning whether, in contexts as sensitive as social services, the mere acquisition of instrumental mastery of these tools is sufficient to ensure safe [...] Read more.
The incorporation of digital technologies has transformed Social Work, generating new demands in terms of professional competencies. It is worth questioning whether, in contexts as sensitive as social services, the mere acquisition of instrumental mastery of these tools is sufficient to ensure safe practice. Considering that the level of proficiency with these tools is influenced by age, the aim of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the digital competence levels of social work professionals and students in order to contrast the skills and shortcomings of both groups. To achieve this, a quantitative methodological design was employed using questionnaires based on the European DigComp 2.2 framework. The sample included 451 professionals from Spain and 171 students from the University of Huelva, whose data were processed using statistical software (SPSS 27). The results show that students display a higher overall level of digital competence, particularly in the creation of digital content and the use of artificial intelligence tools. Professionals, on the other hand, demonstrate stronger competencies in digital security and data literacy. The findings reveal a clear complementarity between the two groups, highlighting an opportunity for mutual feedback and learning that can help combine technological efficiency with ethical responsibility and respect for human rights. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Community Social Services: Issues and Challenges)
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18 pages, 1067 KB  
Article
From Social Marketing to Transformative Communication: Innovation and Social Awareness in Social Services
by Almudena García de la Fuente, David Ruiz-Ortega, Yolanda M. de la Fuente Robles and Virginia Fuentes Gutiérrez
Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(3), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15030154 - 1 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1231
Abstract
In the context of the transformation of welfare systems, and following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, communication and social marketing have taken on a strategic role in community social services. This study aims to analyse communication and social marketing campaigns developed from [...] Read more.
In the context of the transformation of welfare systems, and following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, communication and social marketing have taken on a strategic role in community social services. This study aims to analyse communication and social marketing campaigns developed from 2020 to the present, in order to identify the social issues addressed, the communication objectives and the strategies employed, as well as their link to Community Social Services. A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive design is adopted based on analysing the content of a corpus of 60 campaigns selected through intentional sampling from international public sources. The results show a clear intensification of campaigns in the post-COVID-19 period, with a predominance of themes such as gender violence, mental health, unwanted loneliness and social exclusion. The communication strategies are characterised by the use of emotional narratives, storytelling, audiovisual formats and multi-channel dissemination, combining awareness-raising, prevention and guidance towards social resources. It is concluded that community social marketing is consolidating its position as a transformative tool that reinforces access to rights, social cohesion and the role of Community Social Services as active agents of social change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Community Social Services: Issues and Challenges)
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20 pages, 306 KB  
Article
Beyond the Project Cycle: Relational Sustainability in Transdisciplinary Social Innovation in Social Services
by Luna del Alba Anillo Pérez, María Elena Ferri Fuentevilla, Manuela Ángela Fernández-Borrero and Susana Martí García
Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(2), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15020074 - 29 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1297
Abstract
Transdisciplinarity and the co-production of knowledge have become fundamental approaches to addressing complex social problems. However, the sustainability of collaborative partnerships remains underexplored from an empirical perspective. This article examines the mechanisms that shape the continuity of collaborative networks in social innovation projects [...] Read more.
Transdisciplinarity and the co-production of knowledge have become fundamental approaches to addressing complex social problems. However, the sustainability of collaborative partnerships remains underexplored from an empirical perspective. This article examines the mechanisms that shape the continuity of collaborative networks in social innovation projects in the field of social services, particularly those linked to community-based welfare systems in Andalusia (Spain). Drawing on a thematic qualitative analysis of 15 social innovation projects and 14 semi-structured interviews with project coordinators, the study explores how diverse actors (universities, public administrations, third-sector organisations, and citizens) mobilise different types of social capital within local social services. The findings reveal that collaboration success depends on a balance between relational enablers (trust and shared experiences) and structural barriers (bureaucracy, work overload, and lack of time). The analysis also shows that participatory methodologies and connections with pre-existing networks are essential for sustaining collaboration after project completion. The article concludes that the sustainability of transdisciplinary social innovation in social services requires moving beyond project management logics and investing in the care of invisible relational structures, with implications for public policies aimed at consolidating trust ecosystems and long-term collective learning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Community Social Services: Issues and Challenges)

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17 pages, 554 KB  
Systematic Review
Experiences of Using Artificial Intelligence in Community Social Services: A Systematic Review
by María Dolores Muñoz de Dios, Cristina Díaz Román, Cristina Belén Sampedro-Palacios and Trinidad Ortega Expósito
Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(6), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15060359 - 30 May 2026
Viewed by 1069
Abstract
Community Social Services constitute the primary level of intervention within Social Services systems and play a key role in assessing needs, planning interventions, and coordinating support in situations of vulnerability. The growing incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into professional practice has generated increasing [...] Read more.
Community Social Services constitute the primary level of intervention within Social Services systems and play a key role in assessing needs, planning interventions, and coordinating support in situations of vulnerability. The growing incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into professional practice has generated increasing debate regarding its implications, benefits, and ethical challenges. This study aims to analyse current scientific evidence on the application of AI in Community Social Services. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, examining high-impact academic publications that address AI implementation in Social Service contexts. The selected studies were analysed through thematic synthesis to identify recurring trends, tools, benefits, and challenges. The findings reveal a progressive integration of AI mainly as a decision-support tool, including predictive models, automation of administrative processes, and early risk detection systems. Reported benefits include improved efficiency, enhanced data systematisation, and reduced administrative burden. However, significant ethical concerns, such as algorithmic bias, data privacy risks, and potential dehumanisation of interventions, were also identified. Overall, AI is emerging as a complementary resource in Community Social Services, whose responsible and ethically grounded implementation is essential to ensure alignment with core Social Work values. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Community Social Services: Issues and Challenges)
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