Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Social Worker Decision-Making and Service Delivery: A Practice-Oriented Perspective

The complexity of social work practice, which is defined by increased workloads, insufficient resources, and diverse demands from clients, calls for improved decision-making and better efficiency. Conventional decision-making techniques have proven inefficient due to their reliance on professional judgment and incomplete data. In this paper, I will examine how the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as a decision support system could contribute to improving social work practice. I will adopt a practice-focused approach and develop a structured three-step process involving the identification of complex client needs with the help of computational methods, innovative practice despite resource limitations, and the handling of ethical issues together with stakeholder engagement. The research proves that the application of AI tools, such as predictive analytics and decision support systems, may be very helpful in case prioritization, effective resource allocation, and timely interventions. On the other hand, the introduction of AI into social work practice raises some important ethical concerns that must be addressed to ensure consistency, efficiency, and client-centeredness in practice.