Special Report: Digital Solutions in Children’s Services

With demand for support from vulnerable children, young people and families outstripping available funding and staffing resources, policymakers are increasingly turning to digital technology for a solution.

They see the potential for sophisticated computer systems to produce a wealth of data that can enhance understanding about the needs of communities and populations, and aid the sharing of information between agencies to improve children’s safeguarding.

The recent rapid development of artificial intelligence is also recognised as offering the potential to both reduce the burden of administration for practitioners, so they are free to deliver more frontline work, and to analyse huge volumes of data instantly to help children’s services staff identify risks and intervene earlier.

Digital technology is also being used to improve the transparency of decision making and giving children and families supported by services more of a say in the provision they receive. In addition, the power of virtual reality is being harnessed to train frontline staff and carers about the realities of being a vulnerable child so they can improve their response.

The potential for digital solutions is vast which is why policymakers have recently published a strategy for embedding and developing emerging best practice and sharing it across councils in England. However, it is not without its challenges, with lack of standards on what systems should provide and how they safeguard data being key areas of concern among experts.

CYP Now’s special report on digital solutions summarises most recent policy developments, examples of emerging best practice and explores the debate over the benefits and risks posed by cutting edge tech.

Read more in CYP Now's Outdoor Adventures special report:

• Policy overview

• Big Debate: Does artificial intelligence pose a threat to children’s services?

Practice examples:

• VR films improve foster placement success

• Digital storage keeps children’s memories safe

• Growing children’s services interventions of the future

Training spotlight:

• Early years students use VR to hone safeguarding skills

• Charity’s digital courses support family practitioners