Back in 1999, I was helping to roll out laptops to social workers in Liverpool when a manager told me, “I didn't come into social work to play with computers.” It stuck with me, not because I agreed, but because it reflected a real sentiment among some practitioners. Other people like me were excited about shifts in practice. Social care has always been about people, relationships, and support, not screens and systems.
Even then, I could see how technology could enhance practice, streamline processes, and create better outcomes for children and families. Now though research shows between 50-80% of social workers' time is spent in front of a screen and we need to shift the balance. I think AI gives us the opportunity to do that. When digital tools make social care work more effective and efficient, I get excited. That's how I feel about the potential of AI.
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