MY EXPERIENCE OF DIGITALIZATION
I work as a supervisor of work and day activities in disability services, before that I worked as a supervisor and instructor in social rehabilitation with mental health and substance abuse rehabilitation patients. Digitalization is increasingly visible in my work, but I still think that it is quite a bit. From a customer perspective, work and day activities and social rehabilitation have so far been on-site activities. Now the idea has arisen that it is also possible to carry out activities remotely. Remote activities could potentially also reach customers who are excluded from on-site group activities for one reason or another. Remote activities are not yet available at my workplace, but the idea has been thrown around. I personally think that remote activities, alongside face-to-face activities, would be a good addition to the range of services
Remote meetings are the order of the day, and meetings and trainings via teams have become familiar. Current well-being areas are large and remote meetings save working time and are cost-effective. All customer information is stored in customer information systems, there are no longer paper archives, but the customer information system acts as an archive. All employee information is also in electronic form in supervisory work. Vacation requests are made electronically, training is registered and development discussions are recorded electronically.
Social media is a tool used to make our work visible. The teams have social media managers whose job is to update social media applications with images and posts related to the units’ activities.
OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS
The growing digitalization of society increases opportunities, but also brings with it risks that must be taken into account. Digital services are easy and effortless, and many things can be done regardless of time and place, as long as there is an internet connection and a device with which to access the services. Digital services are cost-effective and enable access to or participation in the service for customers for whom face-to-face service is not possible for one reason or another.
Digital services have also brought with them risks. The big issue is how to make digital services secure. Electronic systems are associated with the possibility of abuse. Data breaches have also been in the news in Finland. Many electronic services are logged in with bank credentials. This enables phishing, which is warned about from time to time. With modern technology, it is possible to create scam websites that look genuine. This can lead to bank credentials falling into the hands of criminals. Cyberattacks have often been in the news after Russia invaded Ukraine.
When it comes to digital services, we must remember that they are not possible for everyone. Not everyone has the skills or devices to use digital services. Humanity is also important. Digital services cannot completely replace face-to-face encounters. I think that when talking about digital in the social sector, we should not talk about either-or, but rather both-and. Digital services and traditional face-to-face services can coexist in harmony.
With the General Data Protection Regulation, personal data and its processing have become more visible both in social work and as a user of services. In my own work, decisions mention the Data Protection Regulation and what personal data is allowed to be used for, how to obtain information about it and where to complain. It has not affected my own work in any other way, because in the social sector, client documents and related personal data have been kept confidential. In my personal life, this has made me pay attention to everything I give permission for with regard to my own personal data.
I asked artificial intelligence whether day activities for people with disabilities are a subjective right.
“ Yes, daytime activities for disabled people are a subjective right in Finland, provided that the conditions laid down in the law are met. This means that the wellbeing services county must arrange the service regardless of the available budget.
Daytime activities are primarily intended for individuals with very severe functional limitations who are unable to participate in, for example, work activities under the Social Welfare Act. The goal is to support the disabled person’s independent life, self-determination, and inclusion.
The arrangement of daytime activities is always based on a service plan that defines the content, scope, and implementation method of the service. The client’s own wishes are also taken into account. The service is free of charge, with the exception of meal and transport fees.” Gemini.
In the main, the AI was right, but not in all respects. You can’t trust AI completely. The answer talks about the transportation fee, which is not true.
I see that artificial intelligence could be used in recording, preparing various statements and summaries. Various chats could also use artificial intelligence. There are certainly many other areas of the night where artificial intelligence could be used or will be used in the future.
In the social sector, customer data protection and privacy are important issues that must be taken into account. Ethics must also be considered and kept in mind at all times. However, artificial intelligence, like other digital solutions, cannot replace face-to-face meetings, and the importance of encounters cannot be underestimated. However, in social work, genuine encounters, empathy and humanity are of great importance.
SELF-ASSESSMENT
While writing the assignment, I also reflected on my own digital skills, how digitality is reflected in my daily life and work. I noticed that I already have a large number of different applications and digital tools in use in just one day. It is difficult to imagine life and work without these digital solutions. Technology is here to stay.
Healthcare is clearly ahead of the social sector in digital services and I was left wondering why this is. The social sector cannot provide diagnoses and related treatment recommendations in the same way as healthcare. In the social sector, customers’ situations and everyday challenges or problems are often complex and multifaceted, for which there is no single clear solution, but solutions are built individually. This also requires different solutions from digital services that can respond to this.
Digital services mean a change in operating culture in working life and leadership is emphasized. Strong change management is a priority. This is something that, as a manager, we need to pay more attention to and support employees and work communities in the ongoing and future changes. Ethics is an issue that often takes a back seat in everyday work and is only considered when an ethical dilemma arises. In my own work and in the development of digital services, I will continue to raise ethical perspectives in the discussion so that human dignity and equality are realized in services.
Blogs I commented on:
Your text clearly describes why the social sector is different from healthcare in the development of digital services. I have worked in the technology sector my entire career, and I have thought that the social and healthcare sectors are on the same level in digitalization.