The Digital Social Care Programmes and Social Work Scotland partner, Calum Campbell, provides a vital link into Social Work Scotland's digital programme.
Their current focus is on:
Social Work and Near Me
Key objectives:
- Exploring the potential benefits of using secure video calling service, Near Me, within prison social work.
- Expedite routes for completing key paperwork including parole reports and risk assessments which will reduce or eliminate travel time for staff.
- Improve throughcare and pre-release planning by facilitating collaboration between social work and other partners such as housing, employability, and benefits.
- Strengthen key relationships and foster greater connections with support networks, local communities, and services.
- Support the continued rollout and use of Near Me within Health and Social Care Partnerships/Local Authorities that are already using it, while also supporting other new areas to get involved.
- Further explore the barriers and challenges to implementing Near Me.
In November 2023, Social Work Scotland in conjunction with COSLA and Scottish Government developed a project proposal to explore the potential benefits of using Near Me in justice, across the prison estate, including prison-based social work. This proposal has been shared with Scottish Prison Service (SPS) for their consideration. Initial informal feedback has been positive, but we are still awaiting formal approval from SPS.
The main aim of this project is to use Near Me to:
- Improve pre-release planning and throughcare by using digital technology to facilitate collaboration between partners and support greater connections to local communities, services, and support networks.
- Expedite routes for the completion of parole reports and other relevant reports, thereby supporting the timeous release of people from prison.
- Build the self-confidence and resilience of individuals in prison regarding the use of technology, to support the achievement of personal goals and to contribute to the release planning process.
- Reduce the harmful effects of social exclusion among the prison population.
- Strengthen community contacts and key relationships while imprisoned through the effective use of technology.
The project is in early development phase and more in-depth updates will be required as we progress through the project lifecycle.
Latest Update:
- Laptops with Near Me access have been installed within HMP Stirling, with a number of successful calls taken place between HMP Stirling and the project team, as well as HMP Stirling service users and their assigned Social Worker.
- Two focus groups were held at HMP Stirling involving women who were currently incarcerated at Stirling. The discussions revolved around the concept of Near Me, its benefits, and the importance of pre-release planning. Key insights were gathered as to how Near Me could be utilised to connect with various organisations such as; social workers, DWP, housing, health services, job centres, and Shine mentors.
- Ongoing work is taking place to connect with local authorities and other key partners to promote this project, identify volunteers and onboard them with using Near Me. A Partners Day is due to take place towards the end of October 2024 to continue to raise awareness and identify potential benefits of Near Me in Prisons.
Digital Innovation in Social Work Practice
Key Objectives:
- Build on existing networks within social work leadership to continue to raise the profile and benefits of use of digital innovations within social work practice.
- Lead and support further implementation of Near Me in social work, with a particular focus on practice areas where it has not been tested yet. This includes, first and foremost, justice; but also, hospital discharge, and children and young people practice settings.
- Develop and support a Social Work Scotland subgroup focussing on digital social work practice. This will be compromised of social work leaders and practitioners with an interest or involvement in digital developments in social work practice.
- Provide updates as work progresses to the Chief Social Work Officers and other relevant Social Work Scotland standing committees and subgroups.
- Explore the pressure points currently experienced within social work practice and explore what digital solutions could do to support this.
Continue to support the ongoing work around digital in social work including:
- Use of AI within social work practice
- Digital Front Door developments, wider use of digital Proactive Telecare,
- use of VR in training of social workers,
- the implementation of the Data Strategy in social work, and
- improving digital skills and engaging leadership on the importance of digitising the social work profession.
Latest Update:
- Developing a pilot of the use of Magic Notes, an AI tool designed for the social work sector to support practitioners to save time by recording, transcribing and summarising conversations with supported people, across social workers.
- Wider use of Near Me to support hospital discharge teams and social workers to complete the assessment process, reduce travel time and allow family members who may live out of area to be involved. This work will be evaluated and learning shared.
- The use of Near Me is also being explored in the area of placement for young people, and within the ASP/Duty team in Aberdeen City. It has been used to great success in North Lanarkshire Access Team, and this work will be evaluated so the learning can be shared more widely.
Publication of the new Self-Directed Support (SDS) Guidance: