Voice to Text for Social Workers
Your caseload keeps growing but there are still only 24 hours in a day. Every client session means another set of case notes. Every home visit means more documentation. Blurt lets you dictate your notes while the details are fresh — in your car after a visit, between sessions, or during supervision prep. Hold a button, speak naturally, release. Your words appear as text, ready to review and paste into your documentation system. Spend less time typing, more time helping clients.
The Typing Problem
Case notes pile up after back-to-back client sessions
You just finished your fourth client session of the day. Each one needs detailed documentation — presenting problems, interventions used, client responses, next steps. But your next appointment starts in five minutes. You scribble a few keywords on a sticky note, promising yourself you'll write proper notes later. Later becomes tomorrow. Tomorrow becomes a blur of half-remembered sessions. The notes you finally write miss crucial details because too much time has passed.
Home visit documentation happens hours after the fact
You're sitting in your car after a challenging home visit. The environment, the interactions, the safety concerns — they're all crystal clear in your mind right now. But you have two more visits today and won't be back at your desk until 5 PM. By then, the vivid details will fade into generalizations. Did the home smell like substances, or was it just stale? Were those bruises new? Your documentation becomes less precise, less useful, less protective.
Court reports demand hours of uninterrupted writing
The court date is next week and you need to compile months of case history into a coherent report. Every observation, every intervention, every outcome — organized and professional. You know what you need to say, but typing it takes three times longer than speaking it. So you stay late, again, missing dinner with your family to finish a report that could have been dictated in an hour.
Referral letters take forever when you're already behind
Your client needs a referral for housing assistance, and the agency needs a detailed letter explaining their situation, history, and needs. It's the fifth referral letter you've written this week. Each one requires careful attention to client-specific details, but typing them out feels like wading through mud when you're already drowning in documentation. The letters get shorter, less detailed, less effective at advocating for your clients.
Progress notes cut into the time you could spend with clients
Agency policy requires progress notes within 24 hours of each contact. That's reasonable on paper. In practice, it means spending your evenings typing instead of recovering. Or it means rushing through notes, losing the nuance that matters for continuity of care. Either way, documentation steals time from what actually helps clients — your presence, your attention, your therapeutic relationship.
How It Works
Blurt works anywhere you can type on macOS — your case management system, Word, Google Docs, email, anywhere. If there's a text cursor, Blurt can put words there.
Hold your hotkey
Press your chosen keyboard shortcut. A small indicator appears showing Blurt is listening.
Speak your notes naturally
Dictate your case notes, observations, or report sections. Talk like you'd explain to a colleague. Blurt handles punctuation and formatting.
Release and review
Text appears at your cursor instantly. Review, edit as needed, and paste into your documentation system.
Real Scenarios
Case notes immediately after client sessions
Your client just left and the next one arrives in eight minutes. Instead of scribbling cryptic reminders, hold your hotkey and speak: 'Client presented with increased anxiety related to upcoming custody hearing. We explored coping strategies including grounding techniques discussed in previous sessions. Client demonstrated improved ability to identify triggers. Plan to continue cognitive restructuring in next session, scheduled for Thursday.' Detailed notes captured in 30 seconds while everything is fresh. Paste into your system later.
Home visit documentation from your car
You're parked outside after completing a home visit. Instead of waiting until you're back at the office, dictate now: 'Home visit conducted at family residence. Home appeared clean and adequately furnished. Both children present and appropriately dressed. Mother demonstrated appropriate supervision. Observed positive parent-child interactions during visit. No safety concerns identified.' The details are captured while vivid. Your official documentation will be accurate and complete.
Court report drafts without the typing marathon
The judge needs your professional assessment of family progress. Instead of spending three hours typing, speak your observations section by section: 'Regarding the mother's compliance with the service plan, she has completed 10 of 12 required parenting classes and has tested negative for substances on all random screens since case opening. Visits with children have progressed from supervised to unsupervised with no reported concerns.' Dictate the whole report in 45 minutes instead of three hours.
Referral letters that actually advocate for clients
Your client needs emergency housing and the application requires a detailed support letter. Hold and speak: 'I am writing to strongly support this application for emergency housing assistance. I have worked with this client for six months and can attest to their consistent efforts to maintain stability despite significant barriers including job loss and family medical emergencies.' Comprehensive letters that help clients, written in minutes instead of hours.
Progress notes between appointments
You have 15 minutes before your next home visit. Instead of letting documentation pile up, dictate progress notes for this morning's sessions while waiting. 'Contact with client via phone. Client reported medication compliance and decreased symptoms of depression. Discussed upcoming appointment with psychiatrist. Client verbalized understanding of safety plan. No concerns at this time.' Four clients documented before your next stop.
Treatment plan updates during supervision prep
Supervision is tomorrow and you need updated treatment plans for discussion. Instead of typing each one, dictate the updates: 'Goal one, reduce symptoms of PTSD, progress: client reports nightmares decreased from nightly to twice weekly. Objective modified to focus on grounding techniques for daytime triggers. Target date extended to allow for trauma processing work.' Thorough updates that show your clinical thinking, not rushed checkboxes.
Supervision notes and self-reflection
After a challenging case consultation, you want to capture your supervisor's feedback and your own reflections. Hold and speak: 'Discussed ethical dilemma regarding dual relationship concern. Supervisor recommended consulting agency policy section four point two. My reflection: need to be more proactive about boundary setting in initial sessions. Action item: review informed consent process.' Professional development documented, not forgotten.
Why social workers choose Blurt over built-in Mac dictation
| Blurt | macOS Dictation | |
|---|---|---|
| Activation | Single hotkey, works instantly | Requires clicking microphone or saying 'Hey Siri' |
| Speed | Text appears in under 500ms after speaking | 2-3 second delay, often longer |
| Reliability | Consistent accuracy every time | Frequently fails silently or produces errors |
| Professional vocabulary | Handles clinical terms and agency jargon well | Struggles with specialized terminology |
| Field work | Works offline, transcribes when connected | Requires constant internet connection |
Frequently Asked Questions
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