SOCIAL SERVICE AND THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Abstract

The article reviews the literature related to the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the professional practice of social workers, with the general objective of analyzing how ICTs have been integrated into the work of social workers during the pandemic. The methodology adopted consisted of analyzing articles, as well as publications from the Federal Social Service Council (FSSC), related to the topic. The results of the analysis indicate a growing integration of ICTs in the daily work of social workers, especially amid the challenges posed by the pandemic. This integration is associated with the intensification and precariousness of professionals' work, especially in social services, where they face difficulties that compromise the effectiveness of their actions. It is observed that ICTs have been used as a strategy to get closer to users of social services, demanding understandable and objective language from professionals. Furthermore, the analysis reveals that work and workers are subordinated to the interests of capital, which is reflected in the need for social workers to adapt to regulations, routines and institutional determinations that were often not thought of by them. Despite the challenges faced, ICTs offer professionals better dynamics in the face of demands, especially in a globalized and technological context. The importance of the social worker's competence in providing social guidance to individuals, groups and the population is also highlighted, which implies a peculiar way of planning, executing and articulating with the network of services and intersectoral actions. In the pandemic context, this competence becomes even more relevant, highlighting the need for a critical and reflective approach to the use of ICTs in the professional practice of social workers.