Features of training social work specialists in the age of digital transformation of society

Abstract

The article substantiates the importance of developing the digital competence of students studying in the field of «social work» using analytical methods. Thanks to the measures taken by the state to digitalize the social sphere, many types of social support are becoming available in a remote format. However, in the process of digital transformation, society is faced with such social problems as digital inequality – the inability to connect to the Internet, lack of digital skills or motivation for some part of the population to use all the opportunities provided by digitalization. Specialists in social work, due to the specifics of their activities, as well as in connection with the demands of society, face the need to solve these social problems. Therefore, as part of the digital transformation of social services sector, the functions of social workers are expanding. It is becoming important not only to have a personal ability to work with digital tools, but also to assist social work clients in using and mastering digital resources. Knowledge of educational and methodological function is necessary for a social work specialist to successfully teach digital competencies to a population in need of social support and who does not have skills to use digital technologies. Such a change in the functionality of a social worker leads to the need to change the content of the training system for social workers.