Πληροφοριακές ανάγκες στις κοινωνικές υπηρεσίες

Abstract

The central issue of this thesis concerns the investigation of the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in social work in Greece today. It examines how digital transformation can fail a reality in social services and to what extent the issue of digital literacy or digital literacy can positively or negatively affect the practice of Social Services or the relationship they develop with beneficiaries. The approach to the topic is structured in individual axes, such as ethics, the advantages and disadvantages of using technological tools, as well as the new order of things imposed by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the measures of social distancing-prohibition of mobility that were imposed. Taking into account the recent literature on the topic of digitalization of social services worldwide, a case study was studied regarding the degree and manner of integration of ICT in a Municipality Social Service in Greece. Interviews were conducted with Social Workers employed in it, who are in charge of handling all the Social Protection and Public Health social programs of the same Municipality. The questions related to how much ICT is utilized in a wide range of social care services, holistic approach, to beneficiaries who belong to the socially vulnerable groups. From the analysis of the research findings, it is demonstrated that the digital transformation of the Greek Social Services has progressed significantly, especially compared to the pre-COVID era, that there is no uniformity in the digital capabilities of the social programs at the Municipality level, that there is a lack of logistical and technological resources, that there are different levels of digital literacy among social workers, but similar levels of professional readiness.