‘Caring and connected’ : Technology and social worker self-care

Journal article


Harris, Sera and Stout, Brian. (2021). ‘Caring and connected’ : Technology and social worker self-care. Journal of Social Work Practice. pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2021.2000945
AuthorsHarris, Sera and Stout, Brian
Abstract

This article outlines social work practitioners’ understandings and practices of self-care, which consider the influence of technology. As part of an exploratory study on the use and experiences of technology by Australian social work practitioners, we examined implications for worker self-care. The study found that technology presents unique challenges and opportunities for self-care as social workers straddled multiple and contradictory conceptualisations of technology in the field. The use of technology raised mixed understandings of self-care, with social workers outlining the need for self-care to protect them from organisational reach and as a mechanism or space for self-care itself. The study findings highlight the need to consider technology in the understandings and practices of self-care for social workers.

Keywordstechnology; self-care; social work practice; social workers; work boundaries
Year2021
JournalJournal of Social Work Practice
Journal citationpp. 1-14
PublisherRoutledge
ISSN0265-0533
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2021.2000945
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85119336293
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range1-14
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online17 Nov 2021
Publication process dates
Deposited25 May 2022
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https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8xx3v/-caring-and-connected-technology-and-social-worker-self-care

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