Digital social work post-Covid has ongoing risks

An "unprecedented acceleration" in the use of digital technology in social work since the pandemic means it now enters all areas of practice, blurring the boundaries between "the online and the social".

This has fundamental implications for children’s safeguarding, where digital communications are playing an “increasing role,” according to a paper Digital Technology in Children's Safeguarding Social Work Practice in the 21st Century: A Scoping Review published in the British Journal of Social Work (BJSW).

Researchers at the University of Manchester examined the shift to hybrid social work practice, tracking practice developments in safeguarding contexts post-pandemic and mapping the longer trajectory of digital technology.

They analysed literature published on digital trends in children’s safeguarding from 2000 to 2022 and identified two distinct categories: use of electronic information systems which record, structure, and inform work practices and decision-making; and digital communications, which now encompass child protection conferences, safeguarding arrangements, home visits to families, specialist services and team cohesion.

The team identified clear risks, particularly arising from the review into the deaths of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson.

The authors describe both murders as "examples of the limits of child protection during the pandemic", observing: "The joint inquest noted 'some lack of clarity about the nature and purpose' of the social work visit to Arthur before he was murdered, which arose in part from a reliance on remote, digital communications between the practitioners and managers immediately before the visit, due to social distancing."

This "lack of clarity" persists, the study argues, with ongoing concerns still being reported by social workers using video calls in child protection contexts: "Social workers have reported being unable to discern whether adults who pose a risk are present (on calls) or being unable to determine the 'vibe' of a situation during video interactions."

But there are also benefits to hybrid working, the paper argues, with digital communications having "the potential to better facilitate co-presence through a 'little and often' approach to communication with families."

Digital technology was found to play an "increasing role" in children's safeguarding, particularly post-Covid in the recording and interpretation of data using new technology, and the now widespread use of digital methods to communicate with families and colleagues.

Concerns were raised about the "gulf" between the "needs of families and social workers and their actual level of skill" at using digital technology, with the researchers noting that "across Europe, 27 per cent of the population with little or no education have never used the internet. This should be a central focus for the profession over coming years".

There were also worries about the exclusion of families' experiences of digital social work from research studies, and "unequal access to suitable digital devices".

The research suggests digital communication and hybrid working continues to present both risks and rewards when interacting with vulnerable families.

The authors note: "Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, social workers’ practice with families and other practitioners was predicated largely on in-person communication, and the relational and sensory experiences afforded by this.

"Digital communications were less common and were largely asynchronous (such as email) or for the purpose of case recording. Practitioners now utilise a wider range of digital methods of communication, including synchronous, video-conferencing platforms and asynchronous text or photo messaging, alongside in- person interactions."

The researchers note that digital technology has been present in children's safeguarding "in a variety of forms" for many years and that "current digital practices have only been able to emerge in the way they have done through the availability of and familiarity with laptops and phones as well as software platforms that facilitate digital communication, such as email and video-calling".

The result is the emergence of digital social work “as a hybrid practice where not only are the digital and physical entangled but also different devices, platforms and applications".

The study recommends further research to fully capture the "wide ranging and unanticipated implications of evolving uses of digital technology".

A separate study by Bournemouth Universty based on a survey of adult social workers at two local authorities and also published in the BJSW warns remote working is adding to the challenges faced by the profession.

Key concerns identified include: feelings of isolation; difficulities reaching colleagues and managers for support; an absence of team culture; and reduced learning and development, particularly for new staff who miss out on opportunities to learn from more experienced colleagues.

Dr Andy Pulman, lead author of the study called The Evolving Workplace: The Possible Impacts of Hybrid Working and Hotdesking on Retention of Social Workers said: “Because of the emotionally demanding nature of their work, newly qualified social workers need a supportive team environment which can be hard to create in virtual environments.

"During this study we heard about a lack of mentorship amongst some new entrants who might be left to fend for themselves after joining."

He added: “If we are not going back to previous ways of working, we need to develop leadership across hybrid working environments which fosters a team culture built on shared learning, peer support and good quality supervision. to improve retention.”