TELEWORK, TECHNOLOGY,

AND SOCIAL WORK

DURING

THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

The environment created by the Coronavirus Pandemic has created many challenges.

For Helping Professionals, these challenges are often even more difficult, as we

frequently serve the most vulnerable populations, while trying to meet guidelines,

mandates, and directives that have had no way of adapting to this rapidly changing

and dynamic environment.

One way to address some of the challenges that social spacing, quarantines, etc.

pose to effective social work may be via the thoughtful and responsible utilization of

telecommuting and technology.

THE CHALLENGE

At the time of this writing, many locations in the

U.S, and around the world, are implementing

suggested or required discontinuation of large,

medium, and even small gatherings. In

addition, more and more people are choosing to

implement “social spacing” strategies and “self-

imposed quarantines”

In this environment, many Social Workers and

other Helping Professionals have been put into

a situation where they must weigh their own

well being and that of their family and personal

relationships, while simultaneously considering

compliance related timelines, organizational

policies and/or lack of resources to decrease

exposure to the virus, and their own ethical

standards for ensuring the safety and well

being of their clients.

There is rarely a single solution to any challenge, particularly in Social Work, where

we are working with individuals and families that are infinitely different in their

strengths, needs, assets, abilities, support systems, etc.

In the current global crisis brought on by the Coronavirus, we as helping

professionals need to be creative, courageous, and confident in the services we

provide to those in need. These may not always be perfect or ideal solutions to

every scenario, but in a crisis, they may just be what is needed to get the job done.

In this document, Social Work Mentor puts forth the concepts of Telework and

Technology as two specific examples of how we can potentially think out of the box

to continue to provide the best possible level of service to our clients while keeping

ourselves as safe as possible.

Typically, telework is a work arrangement that allows an employee to perform work,

during any part of regular, paid hours, at an approved alternative worksite (e.g.,

home, telework center).

A video conference is a live, visual connection between two or more people in

separate locations for the purpose of communication. Video conferencing can

reduce or eliminate participants having to spend time travelling to meet each other.

If this strategy is used with those clients who have the ability to participate in a

video conference, the decreased travel time creates more opportunity to address

the needs of clients who cannot have a video conference. In many cases (where

appropriate), participants can view and work on the same electronic document.

Maybe most importantly, video conferencing allows you to see the person that you

are communicating with, which can give important visual clues that are not

available during a telephone conversation.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

TELEWORK

VIDEO CONFERENCING

REASONS TO TELEWORK

DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

1. Keep yourself as healthy as

possible in order to continue

serving others

2. Protect your clients from

sickness, as they may not have

the resources to get through a

Coronavirus infection

3. Work from home so that you

can care for your own family,

including children who may be

home from a school that has

closed during the crisis.

4. Ensure that compliance related

timelines, activities, etc. are

met in a dynamic, changing

environment

HOW TO PREPARE FOR TELEWORK

1. Ensure that you have an appropriate

workspace, sufficient equipment/materials,

internet connection, etc. such that you can

get your work done in a manner and at a

level that is closely equivalent to what you

would be capable of in the office

2. Work with your organization to determine

which cases may be appropriate for

telework

3. Identify tasks and activities that must be

done “in the office” and how and when they

can be accomplished in a manner that

protects the safety of yourself and your co-

workers

4. Identify gaps in service that may occur by

not being in the office, and find potential

solutions

5. Determine logistics that are agreeable to

both employee and management (start/end

times, tasks to be completed, expectations

for communication, etc.)

6. Determine methods and parameters of

communication (email/phone/tele –

conference, etc.)

7. Arrange regular check-ins with

Supervisor/Manager to ensure that the

telework situation is functioning well, or

where modifications may be needed

TOP VIDEO CONFERENCING TOOLS

1. Zoom

Zoom is ideal for anyone who works remotely. Zoom allows for simple, easy setup

meetings or regular meetings in your personal meeting room. Quickly create and

share a private meeting link with an individual or multiple people through video.

Simple, easy to use phone app.

Top Features:

1:1 and group meetings - Unlimited meetings - HD video and audio - Screen

sharing

Scheduled meetings - Private and group chat - Host controls

2. Google Hangouts

Google Hangouts is a simple way to connect with Google contacts (or those

without a Google account as well). Use this tool for individual conversations,

team meetings, and more.

Top Features:

Up to 25 video participants - Video, audio, and messenger conversations - Video

meeting recordings - Join calls using Google Calendar - Screen sharing

3. Skype

The free version of Skype works well for small teams with less than 10 total

members. It is a good tool if you need a simple way to video chat from your

computer, phone, or tablet and tend to have smaller group meetings or 1-1

conversation. Skype also offers a tool called Skype in the Classroom specifically

designed for online education.

Top Features:

Up to 10 people on video calls - HD video calling - Screen sharing - Video call

recording - Interactive video chats - Location sharing

What is Zoom and how does it work? Plus tips and tricks

How to set up and use Google Hangouts

How to Do a Video Conference in Skype

www.socialworkmentor.com