‘Caring and connected’: technology and social worker self-care

ABSTRACT

This article outlines social work practitioners’ understandings and practices of self-care, which consider the influence of technology. As part of an exploratory study on the use and experiences of technology by Australian social work practitioners, we examined implications for worker self-care. The study found that technology presents unique challenges and opportunities for self-care as social workers straddled multiple and contradictory conceptualisations of technology in the field. The use of technology raised mixed understandings of self-care, with social workers outlining the need for self-care to protect them from organisational reach and as a mechanism or space for self-care itself. The study findings highlight the need to consider technology in the understandings and practices of self-care for social workers.

KEYWORDS:

• Technology
• self-care
• social work practice
• social workers
• work boundaries

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sera Harris

Sera Harris is a senior lecturer, with 20 years of experience in the field of social work & human services. Although considered an early-career researcher, she has completed several industry-based evaluations and consultation projects, focusing on service and programme delivery and improvement. She has practiced in government and non-government settings, with a focus on young people’s wellbeing. She is currently in the role of National Professional Practice Lead, at the Australian Catholic University, overseeing all field education units in social work.

Brian Stout

Brian Stout has a long history of research, teaching and practice in Australia, Europe and South Africa. His most recent book is ‘Community Justice in Australia’ and has carried out research in Australia into interventions with children and young people facilitated by Juvenile Justice, FACS and other agencies. He has a long record of teaching and research in criminal justice, youth justice, probation and social work. Professor Stout has been involved in developing and delivering training and education for criminal justice professionals in the UK and South Africa and participated in a number of European criminal justice social work projects. His research has included child justice diversion in South Africa and sex offender public disclosure schemes in the UK. Professor Stout is an experienced academic leader, recently holding the roles of Deputy Dean and Director Academic Programmes for Social Work. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK.