Abstract:

The article analyses the system for enhancing the qualifications of professionals working in the social sector in Bulgaria in the context of the regulatory changes following the adoption of the Social Services Act (2019). The aim is to examine the extent to which the newly introduced regulatory framework, professional standards and requirements create conditions for sustainable professional development and for improving the quality of social services.

The main research tasks include:
(1) tracing the regulation of initial and continuing professional qualification of specialists in the social sector and its evolution after 2019;
(2) analysing the practices of social service providers regarding the organisation and implementation of training, internal forms of learning and participation in external qualification programmes; and
(3) assessing the role of professional standards and quality control mechanisms.

Methodologically, the study combines analysis of legal acts and strategic documents with empirical data from social service practice (surveys and semi-structured interviews with professionals and managers). The findings reveal tensions between the regulatory requirements and the actual resource and staffing capacity of organisations, as well as fragmentation and a project-based character of a substantial part of qualification activities.

On this basis, conclusions are drawn about the need for a systemic approach to continuing professional development, in which qualification and quality standards are interrelated elements of an overall human resource management policy in the social sector. Recommendations are proposed for profiling and regulating the continuing professional development of professionals in social services; for strengthening partnerships between universities, professional organisations and social service providers; and for introducing systematic mechanisms for evaluating the impact of training on the quality of social services in Bulgaria.

Keywords:

Social services, professional qualification, continuing professional development, quality standards, human resource management.