Virtual assessments, more use of non-social workers and delegation to third parties is the future

Published by Professional Social Work magazine, 15 August 2023

Online assessments should be more readily available to people seeking care, England’s chief social worker for adults Lyn Romeo said.

Romeo suggested lessons learned during the Covid pandemic, such as creative use of technology, could be expanded upon to meet increased demand for support under the Care Act.

However, BASW England's adults group cautioned against using technology to take "short cuts" and the danger of a dilution of social work skills in assessments creating an "incomplete" and "simplistic" picture of people's needs.

Writing in a foreword to a new guide on “proportional” approaches to assessments, Romeo said: “The approach of digital innovation has afforded many people better choice and control over how they engage with their social worker to best suit their individual circumstances.

“How do we ensure that these opportunities are not lost in the return to customary practice?”

Romeo says the guide, produced in collaboration with England’s principal social workers, aimed to help shift practice “in a person-centred way”. It notes the pandemic’s impact on health and wellbeing has seen a rise in demand on local authorities from people seeking support under the Care Act 2014.

The guide stresses face-to-face assessments must always be carried out if there are “complex needs or safeguarding concerns”.

However, online self-assessments can be a “first point of contact” with local authorities, allowing “full assessments to be prioritised according to need”.

Virtual assessments, carried out via a phone or video via computers, laptops and smartphones, took a giant leap forward during the pandemic.

The guide seeks to clarify the use of such technology post-Covid, saying it is suitable when:

• The situation is fairly straightforward and there are no coercion, neglect or safeguarding concerns
• There is a stable internet connection and access to technology
• The person has capacity to engage in the assessment and their communication skills are good

Local authorities offering online-self-assessments must always find out if individuals need help from a friend, relative or advocate, says the guide.

Earlier this year, the Government allocated £27 million to local authorities in England to spend on “digital efficiency” including “self-service tools” and promoting assessments.

Controverisally, the money can also be used to “supplement” vacancies with non-social work staff such as assistant or trainee roles to help shift assessment backlogs.

The new guide underlines the use of non-social work staff, saying: “Ensuring the optimum ratio of qualified staff to other social care staff who are undertaking assessments, care and support planning and reviews will be essential in responding in a timely way to people needing care and support.”

It also provides a checklist for local authorities delegating a third party, such as a health trust or voluntary organisation, to carry out assessments under powers provided under Section 79 of the Care Act 2014.

This includes developing a "memorandum of understanding" setting out the purpose and scope of the delegation with clear oversight arrangements and "some form of validation by a social worker, or occupational therapist".

The delegating local authority “retains ultimate responsibility” for any assessments undertaken by third parties, stresses the guide.

Members of BASW England’s adults group have expressed concern about the evidence base for elements of the guide, such as virtual and self-assessments and the delegation of social work tasks.

They have also warned of a dilution and the shifting of the social work from prevention to safeguarding and complex casework. A lack of social work oversight in delegated assessments was also raised as a concern by members.

The group's co-chair Jackie Mahoney said: "Covid forced social workers to work differently, using technology more when completing assessments.

"In my experience technology can be an incredibly supportive tool but should not be a solution or replacement for social workers. What is missing from this guidance is a firm assurance and commitment from leaders to develop a robust plan for social work to address the current challenges to the profession around its purpose and value and a commitment to avoid the dilution and erosion of the profession.

"The danger in my view is these approaches if taken too far will create opportunity for short cuts and provide a very incomplete, simplistic picture of individuals lives, needs. The risk if not used in the right way is the erosion to social work ethics, values and practitioners maintaining an ethical approach and social work remaining strong to its roots as a relationship-based practice."

BASW England has produced guidance to help social workers to assert their professional judgement backed by BASW's Code of Ethics when supporting adults and their carers.