Research team and study phases

This is a @UCCsocialwork research study based in the School of Applied Social Studies, UCC, Cork, Ireland. Research team:

1. Dr Kenneth Burns, School of Applied Social Studies (Principal Investigator)
2. Olwen Halvey, School of Applied Social Studies
3. Dr Fiachra Ó Súilleabháin, School of Applied Social Studies
4. Amy Bradley, research assistant, School of Applied Social Studies
5. Former collaborators: Elaine O'Callaghan.

Phase 1. September 2022 – December 2022 (completed): anonymous online survey for social workers, student social workers and probation officers. This survey examined social media for their personal use only, who use social media for professional use, social workers who use social media for both personal and professional uses, and for social workers who have ceased to use, or never used, social media. 

Phase 2. June 2023 - February 2024 - qualitative interviews (completed). Interviews with social workers and managers in Tusla, Child and Family Agency.

Phase 3. 2024-25: Website resource and dissemination.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to the Child and Family Agency, the Probation Service, Health Service Executive, the Irish Association of Social Workers, and many teams and services for distributing the survey and to all those who completed the survey, and Tusla staff for taking part in the interviews.

Funding acknowledgement: We would like to thank Tusla, the Child and Family Agency for their co-funding for phase two of this study.