Information and Communication Technologies in the Welfare Services

Elizabeth Harlow is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work in the Department of Social Science and Humanities at the University of Bradford. Prior to this she has worked as a social work practitioner and manager. She has authored a number of publications and was co-editor of Management, Social Work and Change. Stephen A. Webb is Lecturer in Social Work and Social Policy at the University of Sussex. He has also worked at the universities of Bradford and Dundee, and has published widely in the fields of social work theory and social work values, evidence based practice, risk society and new communications technologies.

This book provides an overview of the role of information technology in health and social care. Sociological and political perspectives are presented by academics within the context of a balanced discussion of the pros and cons of information technology for practitioners and service-users. Case studies are presented that are likely to enhance understanding of practical issues within health and social care.

• Introduction: Information and communications technologies in the welfare Services: Wired Wonderland or Hypertext Hell? Elizabeth Harlow, University of Bradford. Part 1. Social Work and Social Care. 1. The Caring Professions and Information Technology: In search of a theory. Nick Gould, University of Bath. 2. Using the Internet for Evidence Based Practice. Mark Watson, National Institute of Social Work. 3. Real Records, Virtual Clients. Annie Huntington, University of Salford and Bob Sapey, University of Lancaster. 4. Technology and systems of referral taking in Social Services: From Narrative to Code. Suzanne Regan, University of Lancaster. 5. Internet Child Abuse. Brian Relph, Luton Borough Council Children Service and Stephen Webb, University of Bradford. Part 2. Health and Welfare. 6.Information Technology and the Organisation of patient care. Walter Sermeus, University of Leuven. 7. Health, collaborative learning and the collapse of professionalism? The Information Brothel Joe Cullen, The Tavistock Institute. 8. From Self-Service Welfare to Virtual Self-Help. Nicholas Pleace, University of York, Roger Burrows, University of York, Brian Loader, University of Teeside, Sarah Nettleton, University of York and Steve Muncer, University of Durham. 9. Consumers, the Internet and Reconfiguration of expertise. Michael Hardey, University of Southampton.10. Conclusion: Technologies of Care Stephen Webb, University of Bradford. References. Index.