Implications of virtual social work : learning for a change

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Implications of virtual social work learning
for a change

• Jackie Rafferty
• j.rafferty_at_soton.ac.uk

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Outline of session

• Introduction
• Based on research published in 2006
• Brief outline of findings of the research re
  skills required for virtual social work practice
• Skills development agenda exercise

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Rafferty, J. Waldman, J. (2006) Fit for Social
Work Practice, Journal of Technology for the
Human Services, The Haworth Press, New York. Vol.
24(2/3)

• Based on an evaluation of the first UK
  open-access online information, advice and social
  work support service available to young people
  (NSPCC)
• Paper argues that
• social workers need to be able to operate
  effectively within a fast changing practice
  environment and societal context in which core
  communication modes are shifting to encompass
  increasing levels of virtual contact.
• there is a widening gap between this aspiration
  and the way ICT skills are currently
  conceptualised in social work education.

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www.childline.org.uk
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Research findings re challenges for social workers

• Coping with the shift in power
• Responding appropriately
• Coping with young people self-harming or
  expressing suicidal thoughts
• Managing endings

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• Not knowing identity and location
• Managing lack of case record
• Providing a sense of continuity
• Building trust and expressing empathy
• Inadequate keyboard skills
• Developing definitions of good practice
• Implications for social work processes
• Supervision

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Developing the discourse

• To date discourse related to the Internet and, in
  particular, child care practice, has focused
  largely upon privacy and paedophilia issues.
• The immediate need is to move towards a deeper
  analysis of how e-practice differs from
  traditional social work practice and establish a
  strategy to begin to address the current deficit.

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Skills development agenda

• Would like your help in considering the skill
  challenges against the following four headings
• Education/training
• Practice
• Policy
• Research

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Going forward

• Aim is to strengthen the network and to work to
  ensure the skills required for the virtual social
  worker are embedded in education, training and
  practice
• If you are willing to join such a network please
  let me know.
• J.rafferty_at_soton.ac.uk