UTILISATION OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY: UNLOCKING COOPERATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL WORKERS

Today, digital technologies affect every aspect of our lives and transform the way we work, communicate, and collaborate. The field of social work can\'t avoid this change process. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the use of digital technology tools in the fields of expert-client relationships, social work education, communication, and cooperation between colleagues and institutions is mandatory in the social work profession. This study examines the use of digital technologies in social work through remote collaboration and communication, cloud-based document management, online collaboration platforms, data analysis and visualization, social media, and online communities. In the rapidly changing world order, professional integration of digital technology tools should be made a part of the process in a fast but effective way. In this process, social workers have both personal and professional reservations about using digital technology tools that are not in widespread use. Social workers have doubts about the adequacy of personal competencies in the use of digital tools, as well as the problems experienced by clients in accessing technology-based tools, the size of the relationship to be established with the client in the use of these tools, and ethical concerns.This study aims to emphasize the importance of the contributions of developing digital technology for social workers for themselves, their profession, and their clients in practice, and to discuss the necessity of adapting the ways of working, communicating, and collaborating in the context of opportunities and risks.