About Us

The Centre for Human Service Technology (CHST) is an international and multi-disciplinary research centre interested in influencing the appropriate use of technology in social work practice and education and researching its implementation and impact.

Through research and development the centre contributes to national and international understanding of the ethical and appropriate use of technologies that support and enhance the lives of service users, carers, practitioners, policy makers and educators.

The Centre is directed by Jackie Rafferty 

CHST is engaged in a range of activities:

• The Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Social Policy and Social Work 
• Co-investigator in FUTURES an EPSRC funded research project led by the Transportation Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Southampton
• Dr Jan Steyaert, Fontys University, The Netherlands holds a visiting fellowship with CHST and Rafferty and Steyaert are editing an issue of the British Journal of Social Work on Social work and the information society, to be published August 2009
• CHST is involved in HUSITA Human Services Information Technology Applications), a global network which holds international conferences.
• PhD students
  • Chuen Suen Leung whose topic is Knowledge Management in Social Work - an organization study in Hong Kong
  • Michelle Heward whose topic is  Mobile, connected, included? The role of technology within later life mobility

If you would like to get on touch with CHST visit the contacts page.