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How Technology Helps Social Workers Focus on People
In a world where digital technology is reshaping how we work and live, Montenegro has taken an important step forward in the field of social and child protection. Across public residential institutions, a new information system now supports the delivery of social care and health services, helping staff work more efficiently and, most importantly, provide better care for residents.
Today, the system is used in all residential social protection institutions in the country, including homes for older and adult persons in Bijelo Polje, Nikšić, Pljevlja, Podgorica and Risan, the “Komanski Most” Institute, the Centre for Children and Youth “Ljubović”, and the “Mladost” Children’s Home in Bijela.
Three Pillars of Digital Everyday Work
The system was designed to bring together the key aspects of work with residents in social protection institutions. It operates through three interconnected modules:
- Resident placement
This module allows the entire referral process — from Centres for Social Work to residential care — to be carried out electronically, without paper documents or postal services. - Social care module
Social workers, psychologists and therapists use this module to support admission, planning and day-to-day monitoring of work with residents. - Health care module
This module enables comprehensive record-keeping of health care, ensuring that each resident’s condition and treatment can be monitored in real time.
No More Paper, No More Post
Electronic data exchange has transformed daily routines in institutions.
“When a request for admission is sent from a Centre for Social Work, documentation no longer travels by post. Everything goes through the system. Based on the information provided, institutions can assess a person’s needs and decide whether they can accept them, depending on available capacity.”
explains Irena, a business analyst at Axians
Mersida, former Director of the Home for Older Persons in Pljevlja, says the system has also improved planning.
“It gives us a much clearer picture — we can see a person’s health status and financial situation, which helps us prepare properly for their arrival.”
Mersida, former Director of the Home for Older Persons in Pljevlja
The Social Care Module: Digital Support for Professionals
Social workers, psychologists and therapists use the system every day to record and follow activities related to residents.
“Through the social care module, all activities are documented — whether someone attends therapy, receives visits, or takes part in group activities,”Irena explains.
Petar, former Deputy Director of the Home for Older Persons in Risan, remembers when the system was first introduced.
“It was around 2015 or 2016. We expected it would be a big help — and it truly was. It made the work of professionals much easier, and that naturally reflected on the residents.”
Petar, former Deputy Director of the Home for Older Persons in Risan
Today, says Jana, a social worker at the Home for Older Persons in Podgorica, the system is an essential tool.
“We use it in our everyday work, from admission to discharge. It helps us work faster, more accurately and be more available to residents.”
Jana, a social worker at the Home for Older Persons in Podgorica
The Health Care Module: Care That Doesn’t Forget
The health care module allows detailed monitoring of each resident’s medical care.
“Doctors prescribe therapy, nurses record the administration of medication, and everything is tracked — even down to a quarter of a tablet,” Irena explains.
Nurses particularly value the continuity the system provides.
“At any moment, you can see what has been done — not just over the past year or two, but since the institution opened. Everything is recorded.”
The system also includes built-in safeguards.
“When you log out at the end of your shift, that’s it. You can’t add anything later. What you’ve done that day is clearly recorded.”
says Dijana, a ward supervisor at the Home for Older Persons in Podgorica
More Time for What Matters Most
The greatest value of digitalisation is not the technology itself, but the time it frees up for what truly matters — people.
“Now we have everything in one place. That helps us enormously, because we can dedicate more time and attention to residents.”
says Slađana, a ward supervisor at the Home for Older Persons in Podgorica.
The information system in social and child protection shows that digital transformation does not have to be cold or impersonal. On the contrary, it can be deeply human. By reducing administrative burdens, it allows professionals to focus more on care, conversation and support — placing people, once again, at the centre of the system.