e-Social work: building a new field of specialization in social work?

ABSTRACT

New technologies have transformed the nature and practice of social work. A wider range of available digital procedures has opened up a broader dimension regarding research, therapies, interventions and social networks in the field. Using meta-analysis methods, this article reviews the current situation of the application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in social work. A search of the literature reveals 70 articles using different methodological approaches over the period 2006–2016. The descriptors for the search were ICTs, information systems, technological systems, social work and e-social work. The main findings are that most studies on ICTs and social work focus on the impact, potential and specific uses of technologies in different aspects of social work, the ethical issues involved and the special attention that should be given to social workers’ educational programmes. This scenario is a changing reality that must be taken into account: it is an irrefutable fact that new technologies are affecting social work and will be reflected by researchers and practitioners who should address and deal with these new trends in social work. The results allow us to identify four key recommendations to assist social workers in successfully adopting and implementing ICTs in their daily practice.

RESUMEN

Las nuevas tecnologías han transformado la naturaleza y la práctica del trabajo social. Una gama de nuevos procedimientos digitales ha abierto una dimensión más amplia en materia de investigación, terapias, intervenciones y redes sociales sobre el terreno. Utilizando métodos de metanálisis, este artículo revisa la situación actual de la aplicación de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) en el trabajo social. Una búsqueda de la literatura revela 70 artículos en los que se utilizan diferentes enfoques metodológicos durante el período 2006–2016. Los descriptores para la búsqueda han sido: TICs, sistemas de información, sistemas tecnológicos, trabajo social y e-social trabajo. Las conclusiones principales son que la mayoría de los estudios sobre las TIC y el trabajo social se centran en el impacto y los usos potenciales y específicos de las tecnologías en los diferentes aspectos del trabajo social, las cuestiones éticas y la atención especial que debe prestarse a los programas educativos de los trabajadores sociales. Este escenario es una realidad cambiante que hay que tener en cuenta: es un hecho irrefutable que las nuevas tecnologías están afectando al trabajo social y serán reflejadas por los investigadores y profesionales que deben abordar y tratar estas nuevas tendencias. Los resultados nos permiten identificar cuatro recomendaciones clave para ayudar a los trabajadores sociales a adoptar y aplicar con éxito las TIC en su práctica diaria.

KEYWORDS:

• E-social work
• technology
• information and communication technologies (ICTs)

PALABRAS CLAVE:

• e-social trabajo
• tecnología
• tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TICs)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Antonio López Peláez is a Professor of Social Work and Social Services at the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Law, of UNED, the largest Spanish Public University. He has been visiting scholar at the School of Social Welfare (University of California, Berkeley, USA), Universidad Americana (Managua, Nicaragua), and at the School of Social Work (Western Michigan University, USA). He is the principal investigator of the Research Group Koinonía, an interdisciplinary and international research team on Social Work and Social Services, Technology, History and Law (www.koinonia.org.es). Outside the academic world he is a supportive member of the Abracadabra Foundation: Solidarity Magicians.

Raquel Pérez García is a Professor of Human Resources and Management at the Department of Business Management of the Public University of Navarra. This activity combines with her work as a consultant and trainer, providing training in all areas of people management, as well as advising various companies in these areas: human resources, management, recruitment, training, career, talent development, etc.

Mª Victoria Aguilar-Tablada is a doctoral student at the International Doctoral School, Universidad Nacional de Education a Distancia (UNED). She worked on computers at NCR Corporation, joining the staff of Didaskalion SL in 1984. She is nowadays CEO of Didaskalion SL and an expert in woman leadership.

Additional information

Funding

This article has received financial support from the Vice-Rector for Research and Internationalization of the UNED for the dissemination of research results.