A CELCIS Emerging Insight Series webinar
Is AI your new critical friend in social work practice?
For this session in our Emerging Insight Series of webinars, we explored what the use of AI means for work that is founded on responding to human need, where ethical practice is essential. Can the use of AI co-exist with ways of working in social care that require critical thinking? How does relationship-based practice remain the central tenet of a practice where AI is used? What are the implications, challenges and opportunities for improving both the quality of social work practice and the quality of social work supervision?
For this webinar and discussion, our speakers brought together research insight with practice and professional training experience to share their perspectives on how these questions are being navigated and are playing out in practice.
We heard from:
- Professor Beth Weaver, Professor of Criminal and Social Justice, School of Social Work and Social Policy, University of Strathclyde
- Professor Tarsem Singh Cooner, Professor of Social Work and Digital Media, University of Birmingham and co-chair of the West Midlands Social Work Teaching Partnership AI Interest Group and
- Dr Caroline Webb, Research Fellow, AI & Digital Health Research and Policy Group, University of Birmingham, and co-chair of the West Midlands Social Work Teaching Partnership AI Interest Group
Download the slides from Professor Beth Weaver
Download the slides from Dr Caroline Webb
Source material and pre-reading
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Working with AI: A Guide for Social Workers: https://pureportal.strath.ac.uk/en/publications/working-with-ai-a-guide-for-social-workers/
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Generative AI, critical thinking and social work practice – an Insight paper published by IRISS: https://www.iriss.org.uk/resources/insights/generative-ai-critical-thinking-and-social-work-practice
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Do we need yet another body to help local government harness the potential of AI? https://inlogov.com/2025/05/27/do-we-need-yet-another-body-to-help-local-government-harness-the-potential-of-ai/
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Artificial intelligence and ethics – a video series with Professor Tarsem Singh Cooner: https://www.youtube.com/@TSCooner
- To support this series of webinars, an online resource of video explainers and existing guidance and research has been put together by CELCIS. You can find it here.
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