Videos and podcasts

The emerging use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is changing the way social workers produce case recordings and make use of information. There are many benefits to using generative AI, such as saving time and reducing administrative burden, however, these benefits come with risks and ethical challenges.

Research in Practice and the Children’s Information Project hosted an open invitation webinar that focused on:

• The opportunities, risks and ethical challenges of using generative AI in social work case recording.
• How we can make better use of information to improve outcomes for children and families.

What do we mean by GenAI? 

GenAI is a form of artificial intelligence capable of producing new content, including text, images, or music. GenAI generates content from inputs provided in natural language, voice, or stored data. It is the most common type of AI used in social work, which is often used to generate case notes, correspondence, meeting minutes, and other case recordings and administrative tasks.

Talking points

The panel responded to a range of questions and comments from participants including themes around:

• Ethical considerations related to transparency and implementation.
• The influence of GenAI on voice.
• The impact of AI on critical thinking and professional responsibility.
• The importance of AI literacy.
• Roles and responsibilities in AI implementation.

Sarah Rothera, a Research in Practice Associate, talks to Gary Davies and Gill Bawler from Somerset County Council. We hear about their ongoing journey to develop a single digital view of the child and how they are supporting others to do the same.

Talking points

• Somerset’s single digital view of the child.
• Key factors for developing a single digital view of the child, such as:
  • The importance of leadership, the right expertise, and strategy.
  • Data, information governance, and legal considerations.
  • Technical challenges and architecture.
  • Ethics.
• The benefits, including:
  • Impact on practice, productivity, outcomes, and relationships.
  • Strategic benefits.
• Incorporating emerging technologies, such as AI.
• Somerset’s collaboration with the Department for Education and 12 local authorities to evaluate readiness for developing their own platforms.

Lots of information is collected about the children and families involved with children’s services but this information is not always used to best meet the needs and interests of children, young people and families.

These video resources will:

• examine the ethics around information and voice.
• explore democracy, equality and justice.
• look at what effective governance looks like, including accountability, trustworthiness and transparency.
• look at what effective professional skills, virtues and culture look like.

These resources were developed from sessions held at Principles and values for data governance and ethics centring the voices of children and families. The event explored how we can engage children and families with the governance, processes, skills and culture needed to develop an organisational dialogue around ethics.

What we mean when we talk about data and voice

Professor Elaine Sharland from the University of Sussex research team examines what we mean when we talk about voice, data and information.

Talking points

This video looks at:

• the multiple voices that we need to capture and pay attention to.
• the complexity around recognising voice.
• definitions of information as both qualitative and quantitative.

Watch video.

Understanding information, democracy, equality and justice

Dr Liam Berriman from the University of Sussex research team provides an overview of the key issues that affect how children’s information is used and what they might mean for how information systems are designed.

Talking points

This video looks at:

• how we can proactively design information systems in ways that are integrating voice within them.
• the ways in which systems may not be experienced equitably.
• the effect that measurement can have on information.

Watch video.

Understanding how we can work alongside children, young people and families to develop approaches to information gathering and use.

Emma Smale, the convenor of the Children’s Information Project Learning Network talks with Dr. Liam Berriman, Prof. Elaine Sharland, Dr. Perpetua Kirby and Dr. Caitlin Shaughnessy from the University of Sussex about how we can work alongside children, young people and families to develop approaches to information gathering and use.

The Children’s Information Project Learning Network is funded by the Nuffield Strategic Fund and hosted by the University of Oxford in partnership with the University of Sussex, the London School of Economics and four Local Authority partners.

Talking points

This podcast looks at:

• The growing amount of information and data that is being collected and how it is being used.
• Considerations for ensuring that children and young people are stakeholders in their information.
• Data literacy.
• Integrating information practices with social care practices.
• Hearing and recognising diverse voices.

Emma Smale, the convenor of the Children’s Information Project Learning Network talks with Prof. Elaine Sharland, Dr. Perpetua Kirby and Dr. Caitlin Shaughnessy from the University of Sussex about how better use of children’s information, data and voice can be used to improve the lives of children and families.

The Children’s Information Project Learning Network is funded by the Nuffield Strategic Fund and hosted by the University of Oxford in partnership with the University of Sussex, the London School of Economics and four Local Authority partners.

Talking points

This podcast looks at:

• The aims and objectives of the project and who is involved.
• What we mean when we talk about ‘data’ and ‘voice’.
• Why improving the use of children’s information matters.
• The challenges around administrative data in children’s services.
• Engaging with diverse voices.