(WITHDRAWN) Social Work in the Digital Age: Israeli Perspectives

Background and Purpose:

With the evolution of technological means and the emergence of network-based applications, the "Information Age" has emerged due to the increasing use of technological measures. As a result of the development of digital technology and social media, social workers are now able to offer remote services to their clients, especially in times of crisis such as wars and earthquakes, when face-to-face service is not possible. However, there are no laws or guidelines governing the use of social media and digital technology by social workers in Israel, nor has any research been conducted on how social workers should use these tools to provide services to their clientele. The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of the challenges shaping technology-assisted social work services in Israel, with a specific focus on the technological tools that are available to social workers, as well as an explanation of the dilemmas they face when implementing these services.

Methods

The mixed methods study included 18 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with social workers and an online survey completed by 200 social workers. The majority of participants were women (83.3%). The participants were all Jewish. Among the participants, 44.4% had a B.A., 50% had an M.A., and 5.6% had a Ph.D. The majority (72.7%) worked in the public sector. 16.7% work in the private sector, and 11.1% in the 'third sector'.

Results:

According to a survey of 200 Israeli social workers, they often utilize text messages, phone calls, and video calls to communicate with colleagues and service users. However, social media is not as frequently used. Over half of the participants received training on technology and information security issues from their employers, and half of them feel comfortable using technology with service users. Furthermore, most of the respondents agree that technology should be further developed in the field of social work.

The 18 in-depth interviews yielded three major themes. The first theme focuses on the impact of technology on service provision. Social workers highlighted the impact of technology on service provision. Although it can overcome physical barriers and improve efficiency, non-face-to-face communication can limit emotional connections. Technology can also blur boundaries between personal and professional lives.

The second theme focused on technological barriers. Social workers identified inadequate information systems, technology illiteracy among service users and colleagues, and communication infrastructure barriers as the main challenges.

The third theme was about challenging the boundaries of information exchange, social workers worry about sensitive treatment information being shared when using technology for psychosocial care. They fear private information could be compromised and leaked, clients' privacy could be uncertain, and service users' online information could harm their privacy.

Conclusion and implications:

We suggest a uniform policy and guidelines to improve technology-assisted social work services. Based on the study's findings, we recommend practical steps such as providing technological training for social workers, optimizing existing systems, and including rules for the use of technology in the therapeutic contract