Assessment of digital competences: characterisation of professional profiles in Spanish social services

This study examines the digital competences of social services professionals in Spain, with the aim of identifying their levels and differentiated profiles based on these competences. A total of 541 professionals participated by completing a self-assessment questionnaire derived from the Spanish Digital Competence Framework, aligned with the European DigComp 2.2 framework. The instrument assessed five dimensions: information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, safety, and problem solving. Cluster analysis identified three profiles: advanced professionals, intermediate professionals, and those with a lower level of digital competence. The findings indicate that in information and data literacy (Dimension 1) basic competences are widespread, although differences emerge in more complex tasks; communication and collaboration (Dimension 2) is the strongest dimension; digital content creation (Dimension 3) and problem solving (Dimension 5) revealed significant gaps, particularly among the least proficient group; while safety (Dimension 4) reached adequate mean levels, the intermediate profile reported difficulties in digital well-being. These results underscore the need for tailored training strategies: strengthening basic competences among lower-level profiles, fostering advanced competences in intermediate profiles, and promoting digital leadership among advanced profiles. Furthermore, integrating digital health and professional resilience is crucial to reducing occupational risks and enhancing the effectiveness of social service delivery, ensuring optimal conditions for both professionals and clients.