Professionals' perceptions of a multi-agency computerised data sharing system

We examined the perceptions of multi-agency child abuse investigation professionals following the implementation of an independent computerised data linkage system for case tracking purposes. Semi-structured interviews (N  = 30) were conducted with child protection workers and police officers, from both frontline and managerial roles, to explore their experiences in adapting to the new technology. Interview transcripts were coded and analysed using thematic analysis, focusing on the semantic meaning of the data. Four multifaceted themes were generated, of which three (understanding the rationale for change; system implementation and its limitations; and the role of technology within the organisational structure) showed strong divergence between frontline workers and management. While executives highlighted the benefits of the new system, frontline workers (overall) held a negative view about the system's usefulness and impact on workload. The implications of the findings are discussed.