Facilitating the national conversation on AI in children's social care

The first round of Community Sessions met in June. Even from these very first national conversations, a few things stand out really clearly…

• The most powerful conversations held both excitement and anxiety.
  Colleagues are optimistic about the potential – but equally thoughtful about risks around consent, accuracy and trust.
• “Human in the loop” isn’t a slogan – it’s a red line. 
  Across practitioners, leaders and data colleagues alike, there was strong consensus: professional judgement must remain central. Because AI is also in the loop, we need to rethink our QA processes to manage this.
• There’s a real appetite for collaboration around practical guardrails – clear guidance on how to use AI responsibly in real social work settings: with families, in recording, and in decision-making.
• Most importantly – people are ready to learn from each other.
  There’s huge variation in where organisations are, but the willingness to share openly and develop approaches together is a real strength.

We’re running the next round of sessions soon – details below if you’d like to join the conversation. 

Tuesday 14 July 1.00 – 2:30pm

Following on from our session on ethics and consent, this session focuses on the practical ways AI can support social workers in their day-to-day work.

Designed for social workers and practice managers, this session will explore how AI tools can be used to reduce administrative burden, support case recording, and free up more time for direct practice.

In this session, we will focus on:

• Identifying practical use cases for AI in social work
• Using AI tools to support case recording and documentation
• Reducing administrative workload while maintaining quality
• Understanding where AI can add value—and where it should not be used

Thursday 16 July 10.00 – 11:30am

As organisations move from exploration to implementation, ensuring AI is introduced safely and consistently becomes a key priority.

This session is designed for Principal Social Workers, workforce leads, and senior managers who are responsible for shaping how AI is implemented and embedded within practice.

In this session, we will focus on:

• Approaches to implementing AI safely within social care settings
• Ensuring quality assurance and consistency in use
• Defining standards, expectations, and boundaries for practice
• Supporting teams through change while maintaining oversight

Thursday 16 July 1.00 – 2:30pm

As organisations begin to move from strategy into implementation, a range of practical challenges begin to emerge across systems, governance, and delivery.

This session is designed for data, digital, governance, and commissioning leads who are navigating the complexities of implementing AI within existing organisational structures and infrastructure.

In this session, we will focus on:

• Key implementation challenges across systems and services
• Integration with existing infrastructure and case management systems
• Barriers related to governance, procurement, and compliance
• Practical considerations for scaling and sustaining AI use

All levels of participation are welcome as are all views on AI. If you’re innovating in AI in your practice, this is an opportunity to share your learning more widely. If you’re concerned about AI in children’s social care, this is your chance to shape the conversations that will define its future. 

Be part of the national conversation – click on the links above to sign up for our July community sessions.