Social work and child protection beyond the COVID-19 pandemic: Key challenges and good practice
Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted forms of face-to-face relating between social workers and families in numerous ways, particularly forms of intimate child protection where practitioners got physically as well as emotionally close to children. This report explores how the pandemic affected child protection and the implications for future effective practice. It shares findings around the increased use of digital technologies in social work and where there are opportunities to develop person-centred practice going forward.
The report also examines how organisations can effectively support staff and increase wellbeing and job satisfaction in a time where the boundaries between home and office working have become increasingly blurred.
Professional Standards
PQS:KSS - Relationships and effective direct work | Analysis, decision-making, planning and review | Organisational context | Promote and govern excellent practice | Shaping and influencing the practice system | Purposeful and effective social work | Creating a context for excellent practice | Designing a system to support effective practice | Support effective decision-making
PCF - Critical reflection and analysis | Contexts and organisations
Choosing Digital: Embedding digital practice in children's social work
A new dedicated website, Choosing Digital provides a collaborative decision-making tool that recognises the benefits of a blended approach to interaction (both in-person and digital) between young people and their social care workers.