Other

Social Media and E-professionalism in Child Welfare: Policy and Practice

This article reports that, in the United States, there is little guidance for managers and policymakers about how child welfare workers should search for or communicate with clients via social media. It offers a number of considerations for standards of e-professionalism. As well as the journal article, this summary draws on relevant guidance and frameworks from the UK.

Benefits and risks of social media use

Sage and Sage report that the term e-professionalism refers to the way workers use digital communications and how this affects their professional identity. Social media tools share a number of common characteristics, such as the ability to create a public or semi-public profile and develop connections with other users. Opinions on social media use in the child welfare field are often polarised between those who believe it is too risky and those who believe it has many benefits.

The ethical use of social media within the professional world can be a challenge to navigate and requires a framework for decision-making. In addition to Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and British Association of Social Workers guidance on social media, UK professionals should also refer to the Office of Surveillance Commissioners' procedures and guidance.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included

  • Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month

  • Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here


More like this

Hertfordshire Youth Workers

“Opportunities in districts teams and countywide”

Administration Apprentice

SE1 7JY, London (Greater)