Digital Innovation in Social Care: Special Report

Children’s services professionals, like so many others in society, have seen their use of technology change dramatically over the past year. Instead of it being an adjunct to everyday practice, the pandemic-enforced restrictions have required practitioners to embrace digital technology to undertake everyday duties such as interacting with each other and service users, undertaking training and supervision, and disseminating vital public health messages to communities.

As Jenny Coles, Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) president 2020/21, says, the sector “had to adapt quickly” to ensure vulnerable children and families have been supported.

Research published earlier this year by the NSPCC showed this has not been without its problems – digital platforms are no substitute for seeing a family in their own home – but as Coles says, the experience will enable the sector to “consider what we have learned and what we want to maintain post-Covid” (see ADCS expert view).

The widespread adoption of digital platforms by children’s services over the past year has seen councils and technology providers work together to develop new ways of delivering services, with a key focus on better meeting the needs of children and families.

CYP Now’s special report on digital innovation in children’s social care highlights three examples of innovative local collaborations, a summary of recent key research and experts outline emerging trends in policy and practice.