Serviço Social na Política de Saúde no Brasil: atribuições e competências profissionais.

Abstract

This work aims to reflect on the work of Social Workers in Health Policy in Brazil, highlighting their duties and competencies in the context of a Neoliberal offensive. In this sense, it was necessary to discuss the historical trajectory of the Unified Health System (SUS), from before its implementation until today, also knowing the main difficulties encountered in the process. This critical discussion is also essential to recognize the difficulties of insertion of social workers in the health area given the current challenges that these professionals face in this field. Therefore, it is essential to mention the Skills and duties of Social Workers in health policy. To prepare this work, bibliographical research was carried out, including scientific articles, books and legislation. The study highlights Social Work as a profession inserted in the social and technical division of labor. The profession has professional competencies and responsibilities that allow it to recognize and intervene in the social, institutional, socioeconomic and cultural demands of users of the Unified Health System (SUS). The interest in the topic came from a professional desire in the area, and due to the supervised internship experienced at the Emergency Care Unit-UPA, in the year 2022, when we had the opportunity to observe the dynamics, their particularities, and their real contributions, as well I decided to contribute to this work in order to demonstrate the responsibilities of these professionals in the health sector, reflecting on professional challenges and possibilities. The method used refers to qualitative, given that the descriptive research objective was used, using bibliographical research. To achieve this, it is necessary to use theoretical-methodological, ethical-political and technical-operational mediations aligned with the purposes of the SUS. These mediations allow the construction of proposals to face the challenges faced on a daily basis to guarantee the right to health. The work of social workers in health institutions is presented as a mediator between different interests and conflicts, seeking to guarantee the rights of SUS users.