AI and Ethical Practice in Social Work: Reflections and Risks in Child Protection and Family Work

AI and Ethical Practice in Social Work
Reflections and Risks in Child Protection and Family Work
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future challenge for social work—it is already here. From child protection referrals to court reports, AI tools are being used formally and informally, creatively and under pressure, and sometimes unethically. This timely and practitioner-rooted book explores what that means for frontline workers, the families they serve, and the future of care.
Drawing on lived experience in UK safeguarding and statutory practice, this book speaks directly to those working in children and families’ social work. It does not hype the technology, nor reject it outright. Instead, it offers a careful and courageous exploration of what it means to engage with AI in a profession built on human relationships, ethical reflection, and trust.
What’s inside:

• Real-life case examples of AI’s presence in frontline children’s services
• Global policy insights, including predictive analytics in the UK, US, Netherlands, and Australia
• The Victoria, Australia case study: where court reports written using ChatGPT led to a nationwide ban
• A six-part ethical framework tailored for social work practice: transparency, equity, privacy, authorship, reflection, and accountability
• Guidance on key AI challenges: hallucination, bias, tone, authorship, professional dependency, and emotional erosion
• Fictionalised case scenarios for supervision, CPD, and team reflection
• Everyday tools: prompts, ethical checklists, supervision questions, and planning templates
• A dedicated chapter of practical tips to help social workers use AI without losing their professional voice, values, or judgment

• Frontline child protection and safeguarding professionals
• Social workers, team managers, and service leaders
• Students, educators, and researchers in social work, safeguarding, and digital ethics
• Multi-agency partners including education, health, early help, police, and youth services
• Families, advocates, and care-experienced individuals curious about AI in public systems

Written in clear, plain British English and grounded in relational practice, this book invites honest engagement with one of the most urgent developments facing the social work profession. It is not a technical manual or an academic treatise—it is a reflective companion for practitioners navigating complexity in the digital age.
Whether you're sceptical, curious, or already using AI tools like ChatGPT in your work, this book offers guidance without judgement. It challenges silence. It equips action. It insists that, even in a world of fast technology, the heart of practice must remain human.

In the end, it will not be AI that protects children.
It will be you.