Brave New Care: The Digital Evolution of Social Work Cultures and Capabilities

Description

Brave New Care: The Digital Evolution of Social Work Cultures and Capabilities

My presentation, "Brave New Care: The Digital Evolution of Social Work Cultures and Capabilities", explored the digital transformation of social work, emphasising the growing importance of digital health technologies (DHTs) in practice.

The lecture began by outlining the impact of digital technologies on social work, developing awareness of digital capability needs, and addressing ethical considerations. The session highlighted how the rapid digitisation of healthcare, especially during and post-COVID-19, has created new challenges and opportunities.

The lecture introduced DHTs like electronic patient records (EPRs), AI-assisted diagnostics, and telehealth, illustrating their increasing relevance in social work through use cases like risk assessments for child welfare and virtual reality for empathy training.

A significant part of the talk focused on the necessity of digital literacy and capability for social workers, with the new All Ireland Digital Capability Framework being highlighted and discussed. The lecture distinguished between competency (the ability to use digital tools) and capability (a broader adaptability to change, critical engagement with technology, and continuous learning).

The All-Ireland Digital Capability Framework provided a structured approach to understanding digital professionalism, leadership, data management, and ethical digital health governance.

The lecture also explored the role of technology in social work education, discussing how tools like simulation, online learning, and social media can enhance professional training but also require careful ethical and critical consideration of how, when and where digital should and should not be used.

Finally, there was group discussion about the ethical and future implications of a digitised social care system. Using examples, such as the GPS tracking of individuals with dementia, the lecture encouraged critical reflection on the balance between safety and autonomy.

Looking ahead to 2035, the end of the lecture challenged students to think about the social worker's day to day work in 2035, and how AI, automation, and other health technologies will shape the profession, presenting both opportunities and challenges.

The lecture concluded by emphasising the need for social workers to develop digital skills while maintaining human-centred care, ensuring that technology enhances, rather than replaces, ethical and compassionate practice.

Period	10 Mar 2025
Held at	School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work
Degree of Recognition	Local