Comprehensive new analysis of state-of-the-art tech already being used in social work and social care, its benefits and risks
Our colleagues at Social Care Today have published a new special report, People First With AI & Tech-Enabled Care, available to download for free. It’s a concise but thorough examination of the ways new technology affects the provision of social work and social care.
As the introduction to the report says, this isn’t the tech of the future; it’s already here. Social workers routinely use transcription systems to write up notes and assessments. Video telecare, motion sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) are already used in many settings.
In April this year, Wes Streeting, the Health and Social Care Secretary, recognised that tech-enabled care (or TEC) is, ‘helping people to live independently in their own homes and improving the quality of care.’ And the government is keen to, ‘harness the full potential of cutting-edge technology to transform’ the sector. The tech industry is enthusiastic, with all sorts of claims being made about what tech – especially AI – can do.
But can AI really deliver what its proponents claim? What about the hidden costs of using such technology, such as its environmental impact? What do people working in social work and social care need to be aware of?
That’s what this short, simple guide lays out. It covers what AI and TEC are, what they can and cannot do, and the benefits and risks of using them in social work and social care, to help vulnerable people. The report also looks at how local authorities and organisations can pay for such new technology, and provides several real-life case studies.
These include the successful rollout of Cassius by Suffolk County Council, the Dorothy app designed to help people living with dementia, the Earzz acoustic monitoring system and the experience of care provider Bluebird Care NEW Devon in using Access Assure monitoring technology.
The report also speaks to Luke Geoghegan, Head of Policy and Research at the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), about the urgent need for critical thinking in our approach to tech.
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