Social Workers and Information Technology

 Anecdotal evidence suggests that many social workers are keen to embrace the opportunities afforded by digital technology. Many also see these technologies as a new means of engaging with service users, a capability that has proven especially welcome in children’s social work where new apps have enabled children and young people to record their thoughts and share these remotely with their social worker and other professionals involved in their care. However, support for these new tools is not universal and there is still reluctance or reservations relating to concerns around governance, information-sharing and confidentiality issues, which have been raised by some commentators. Significant attention has also been paid to Social Workers use of social media, perhaps driven by concerns about the ethics and appropriateness of this form of communication.