'Caring and connected': technology and social worker self-care. Issue 3 (3rd July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Harris, Sera; Stout, Brian
• Is Part Of: Journal of social work practice. Volume 36:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 359
• Page End: 372
• Publication Date: 2022-07-03
• Subjects: Technology -- self-care -- social work practice -- social workers -- work boundaries; Social service -- Case studies -- Periodicals; Social service -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Social service -- Book reviews -- Periodicals; 361.32
• DOI: 10.1080/02650533.2021.2000945
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-0533

Abstract

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.