Future-proof social work

With a background in social work, Niels explores how artificial intelligence can contribute to future-proof social work. Since 2023, he has been actively investigating how AI can not only support processes, but also enhance the quality of care in a sector increasingly under pressure due to complex care needs and limited capacity.

What distinguishes his approach is that he makes technology accessible within a field where digitalisation is not self-evident. Rather than presenting AI as an abstract or threatening concept, he shows how it can support daily practice. Through workshops and training sessions at various welfare organisations, he gradually guides professionals through the possibilities of AI, as well as the risks and ethical dilemmas involved.

Lowering barriers

The emphasis is strongly on doing and experiencing. Social workers are not only informed but are especially invited to experiment with AI tools themselves. This lowers the barrier and makes technology practically applicable in their work. For example, in administrative tasks or in supporting substantive decision-making.

The impact of his work is becoming increasingly visible. Within organisations, awareness of the role of AI in social work is growing, and the topic is actively discussed at management and policy level. At the same time, professionals experience that technology can actually help create more space for personal contact and human interaction, as routine tasks become more efficiently organised.

Pioneering role within welfare

What drives Niels is the conviction that technology is never a replacement for humanity, but a means to strengthen it. By connecting both worlds, social work and technology, he shows that innovation and human-centred practice do not have to be mutually exclusive.

With his pioneering role, he takes an important step towards a future in which AI is not central, but does actively contribute to better support for people in the social domain.