Social workers’ perspectives on adapting methods during the COVID-19 pandemic

Summary: This study sought to investigate the experiences and adaptations of social workers during the transition from face-to-face to online interventions amid the initial wave of COVID-19 in Israel. In-depth interviews were conducted with 27 social workers who had exclusively delivered face-to-face treatment before. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the interviews. Findings: Data analysis revealed five primary themes concerning the transition from face-to-face face-to-face to online interventions, highlighting the challenges faced by social workers during this shift. The adjustment process was swift and often involuntary. It initiated with a shock stage, marked by difficulties in accepting the new reality due to uncertainties related to technical aspects, technological means, and social workers’ attitudes toward the transition. The process concluded with social workers accepting the new reality, discovering new meanings, and gaining insights into themselves, the method, and the process. Applications: Integrating the online method into the training processes of social workers could have mitigated most challenges encountered during the transition between treatment methods. Shifts in attitudes and perceptions towards the online method result from practical experience and serve as the foundation for its application in professional work, enabling the realization of its benefits.