Redefining Professionalism in Disability Services: Digital Transformation, Boundary Work, and Professional Capital in Frontline Care During the COVID‐19 Pandemic.
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| Title: | Redefining Professionalism in Disability Services: Digital Transformation, Boundary Work, and Professional Capital in Frontline Care During the COVID‐19 Pandemic. |
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| Authors: | Gäddman Johansson, Richard (AUTHOR), Engwall, Kristina (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. Jan2026, Vol. 39 Issue 1, p1-11. 11p. |
| Subjects: | Professionalism, Digital technology, Corporate culture, Social capital, Social services case management, Occupational roles, Qualitative research, Executives, Interprofessional relations, Research funding, Adult day care, Interviewing, Professional identity, Reflection (Philosophy), Intellectual disabilities, Thematic analysis, Vocational rehabilitation, Research methodology, COVID-19 pandemic |
| Geographic Terms: | Sweden |
| Abstract: | Background: During the COVID‐19 pandemic, frontline care workers in day centre services for adults with intellectual disabilities rapidly adapted their roles through use of digital technologies. This study examines how these developments shaped professional roles and identities. Method: The study draws on qualitative interviews with 14 frontline staff and 5 managers in day centres that shifted from on‐site to remote services. Thematic analysis was guided by the concepts of boundary work and professional capital. Results: Digitalisation temporarily reshaped professional identity by enabling increased digital competence, peer collaboration, and creative agency. Staff experienced tensions between digitally mediated practices and values tied to co‐presence, embodied interaction, and relational care. Conclusions: Digitalisation created both opportunities and strains in frontline care work. Sustaining constructive digital practices will require organisational support that recognises frontline workers' expertise, integrates digital competence with reflective professional development, and involves staff and service users in shaping how technologies are used. Lay Summary: During the COVID‐19 pandemic, frontline care staff working in day centre services for adults with intellectual disabilities rapidly shifted to digital ways of working, which temporarily changed how they carried out and understood their professional roles.Digital technology enabled staff to maintain contact with service users, collaborate with colleagues, and experiment with new forms of support.At the same time, staff experienced tensions between remote, technology‐mediated practices and core caregiving values such as co‐presence, embodied interaction, and relational attentiveness.To make constructive use of digital technologies in day centre services, organisations need to provide ongoing support that strengthens staff's digital and reflective skills and ensures that both staff and service users can influence how digital technologies are introduced and used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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