Social services software solution helping social workers focus on families, not paperwork

DUBLIN, OH—September 30, 2014—New technology in social work is helping Beaufort County Department of Social Services (DSS) boost worker morale, improve interaction with families and reduce agency expenditures, according to a new case study released today by Northwoods.

The agency is utilizing Northwoods’ social services software solution – Compass® Pilot in the office and Compass®CoPilot in the field – to achieve these initial results:

• 13% reduction in turnover
• 75% reduction in office supply expenditures
• 2-3 hours in saved time per day, per social worker
• More accurate and timely case notes
• More time to interact with families

Social workers and caseworkers in child protective services (CPS), adult services, and income maintenance are repurposing up to two hours a day to focus more on the families they serve and less on paperwork.

Reducing the administrative burden decreases workers’ stress levels, which is helping Beaufort County DSS retain talented caseworkers and social workers. The families they serve are receiving better service and realizing more positive outcomes.

"Social workers have stated that with the same caseload size as they had prior to CoPilot, they now feel their workload is manageable. The only social worker turnover since implementing CoPilot has been related to planned retirements,” said Sonya Toman, director of Beaufort County DSS.

In addition, the agency is saving $30,000 on supplies every year, which is a 75 percent reduction in expenditures in the past three years.

“Out budget hasn’t increased any of the last three or four years. That’s why programs like this should be important to all counties,” said Al Klemm, vice chairman of the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners.

The integrated system enables workers to access and update case and client information during home or other visits to save time on documentation in the field and back at the office. With Compass CoPilot in the field, social workers can capture documentation on their tablets so case information is added to the case file in real time.

Compass CoPilot also helps social workers and supervisors work together to make real-time decisions about client safety because they can instantly share and review photos and audio recordings to make assessments quickly.

View the full Beaufort County DSS written case study series:

• Full case study
• Child Protective Services
• Adult Services
• Income Maintenance

View the full Beaufort County DSS video case study series:

Full case study

Child Protective Services

Adult Services

Income Maintenance

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