Social advising and consulting as a professional practice strategy: the role of the social worker in the third sector

Abstract

This article proposes a reflection on social advisory and consultancy as professional strategies for social workers within the third sector, highlighting their relevance in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of social projects. It discusses the role of civil society organizations in light of the State’s limitations in guaranteeing rights, emphasizing the centrality of the social worker in mediating between public policies, institutions, and the population. The article is based on bibliographic research and draws on both classical and contemporary authors in Social Work, articulating the profession’s historicity with its ethical-political project. It argues that professional practice in this field requires technical, methodological, and political-critical competencies. It also underscores the importance of exclusive professional attributions regulated by Law No. 8.662/1993, such as project design, diagnostics, and consultancy. It concludes that advisory and consultancy practices strengthen the protagonism of organizations, contribute to the democratization of rights, and reaffirm the profession’s transformative commitment.