Pracownik socjalny w systemie pomocy społecznej. Koncepcja roli zawodowej

The article presents the history of the social worker in the system of social aid in Poland. Reflection on the changing conception of the job of the social worker and on the changes of his professional role along with the institutionalization and professionalization of the job is the main motif of the considerations. In the first part of the article the idea and traditions of social work are briefly outlined, which is an introduction to a discussion of the history of the function of the social worker (initially ‘social curator’) in the institutional system of social aid. Starting from the social curator in Poland before World War II, through the personnel of social aid in the period of the Polish People’s Republic, and ending with the social worker in the contemporary Republic of Poland – the article discusses the institutional position of the people who do the job, the changing range of the job’s tasks and the profile of the professional role that is a response to social expectations. In the article attention is paid to the fact that ever more is required from social workers as far as their professional and ethical competence is concerned, but also to the broadening scope of tasks and responsibility of the social worker who, in the contemporary conception of the job, is to fulfill the function of the local social politician.