Be Inspired! Shirley Ayres Consulting

Greg Morris

Greg Morris is a CIPD qualified trainer who has consulted for both the public and private sector about how to use technology to work more effectively and efficiently. Greg is running a free training day “Learn how to build a website for your business FOR FREE ” on the 31^st  January from 10:00 to 13:00 at Bromley Library  South London. Register here I am always interested in how we can support small organisations to make the most of the internet. Thanks Greg for sharing you thoughts.  

There are some green shoots of change in Central and Local Government’s attitude to the web and social media, and this is also the case for charities and social enterprises. This is good news because now it makes it easier for people to communicate with you and get access to up-to-date targeted, interactive and important information from your organisation. This is the first time that there has ever been a viable easy alternative to picking up the telephone to communicate with an organisation.

But during a time where costs are soaring, budgets are being squeezed to bursting point and unemployment numbers continue to soar how can you do this? Is there a way to have an easy to navigate, user friendly social website that allows organisations to communicate with users and improves their experience when they visit?  And, can all of this be done without breaking the bank?

I’ll answer that question later, because there was once upon a time where the internet and website management was the domain of geeks and computer coding specialists. Now there are so many user friendly website tools out there that anyone, and I use that word on purpose, anyone can build a search engine optimised, fully functioning, stable, website with all the social mashables needed.

So let’s just imagine that you believe you personally could learn how to build a beautiful website for your organisation, how much would that actually cost?

An amazing ex-client of mine, womensenews.org have a huge website with lots of articles and spend about £7.50 per month on hosting! If your organisation is smaller you can expect to spend about £3-00 per month.  There a few other things you need to have to create a site like womensenews.org:

Templates - £00.00 – 50.00,

5 Email inboxes - £10.00 Per Year

Snippet Mailers - Free

Databases - Free

FaceBook Connectivity - Free

Twitter Connectivity - Free

YouTube Connectivity - Free

User Forums - Free

Live Online Chat - Free

Client Document Upload Capability - Free  

In answer to that very long winded question asked earlier, the answer would have to be – yes, if your budget can handle between the minimum of £37.00 pounds per year and the maximum of £100 per year and a one off £50 purchase.

So if you have been considering making better use of your online presence or if you are yet to get online, it has never been as easy or as inexpensive to do so. Good luck and if you have any questions do contact me  http://www.niait.com on twitter @gregmorrisuk http://uk. linkedin.com/in/gregmorrisuk

Tags: building a free website, communications, greg morris, joomla, social media

Related Posts:

• Are You Attending Social Media Week London?
• Guest post: DIY solution for hyper local TV
• A guide for care organisations developing a social media strategy
• Guest Blog ~ Using Social Media to Improve Employee Engagement
• Just how big is social media in the UK?

Colin Paton

Yes says Colin Paton Senior E-learning Project manager at SCIE who gave a presentation at the Learning Pool London Social Care Briefing last week. The new research from Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) explores E-Readiness in the Social Care Sector and there are some fascinating findings. 

In 2006 SCIE commissioned Ipsos MORI to undertake a research programme with the following objectives:

To establish whether the social care sector in England was ready to maximise the use of e-learning in terms of technical and organisational infrastructure and in terms of the availability of e-learning content for social care

To provide an assessment of the capacity of the social care sector as a whole to  use and produce e-learning, in particular in Internet-based learning, and to  exploit its full potential in pursuit of improved services for users and carers

SCIE and Ipsos MORI ran the e-readiness survey in 2006-7 and again in 2010 that looked at the following areas across the social care sector:

 •              Access to IT

•              Usage of e-learning

•              Attitudes towards e-learning

•              Barriers to uptake of e-learning

•              What is good e-learning

•              Support for e-learning

Both surveys polled social care employers and employees from local authorities, the private sector and the voluntary/charitable sector.

From an e-learning perspective it is heartening to see that usage of e-learning as a training methodology has increased across the board since 2006-7. Attitudes from employers are much more positive towards the potential effectiveness of e-learning. They are much more aware that there is good e-learning available out there and feel more confident in supporting the take up of e-learning within their organization. It is worth noting that in both the 2006-7 and 2010 surveys employees demonstrated that they are much more willing to take e-learning training than their employers may have assumed.  There is, of course, still a lack of access to IT in the workplace (in all but local authorities). The 2010 survey reveals that personal access to IT is much higher and this may offer opportunities for e-learning undertaken at home.

The survey will be carried out again in 2011-12 and one can assume that e-learning usage to continue to increase. Key to this however will be a greater awareness of where to find good e-learning resources, greater support for both employers and employees on how to use e-learning most effectively and to select the best resources and a mature policy on home training.

The full 2010 report can be found at: http://www.scie.org.uk/workforce/getconnected/Research.asp

Definitely worth looking at the presentations from the Learning Pool Briefing which included Safeguarding Adults in Warwickshire (Carol Judge) From data protection to dementia (Ed Schrager), Social Care in the 21st Century (Lynn Meaden) with a mention of the Richmond Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy. 

About the author Colin Paton has worked with e-learning inC Latin America and the UK since 1998 and is now Senior E-learning Project manager at SCIE responsible for the development for a range of national e-learning programmes for the social care workforce.

Tags: e learning, online learning, social care, social learning

Related Posts:

• #socialcare #socialwork You are not engaged with #socialmedia because?
• Social Networking Basics for Social Care
• Sharing wisdom and knowledge with thanks to my guest bloggers in 2010
• GuestBlog: Social Learning through Social Media
• Guest Blog: Why personalisation can only be achieved through creative engagement

 The importance of communities and the stability of those internal (Intergenerational) relationships have been over-shadowed by the recent events of the global financial meltdown. But it is those relationships that will prove to be the single most important stabilisation factors in the long-term.

How we unlock social capital within the community is critical to the support of our children, our defining beliefs, the ability to respect each other and learning from the rich tapestry of global cultures, to list but a few implications.

The impact of industrialisation and that being experienced globally in the current decade, has had a severe impact upon the concept of older people (and by extension young people). Central Governments have attempted (via various policies and initiatives), to support the idea of intergenerational practise (a term given to the revolutionary work of bringing different generations together in the spirit of learning, sharing, etc). In addition, those Governments have looked to increase the exporting of services to the communities in the hope that communities may use and manage those services.

Although many were policies adopted and implemented, they were borne out of a desire to enable services to be accessible.  The type of service and the raison d’etre underpinning the service unfortunately did not focus for long-term legacies. Indeed it could be argued that, the Governments are returned simply based on this period of temporary enlightenment.

But still the myriad of issues relating to older people remains. There are a range of agencies, the Beth Johnson Foundation being the most prominent, who have spent a considerable amount of time and research, working with a variety of organisation to look at the issue of social capital. The previous Labour Government was able to get the Poverty Act 2010 in force, as well as the longer established Cantle Review. But they did not use the pivotal and long-term implications of both, to much longer-term effect.

The Elder is the social capital that has the power to encourage such opportunities to occur.  

About the author: Eli Anderson is a writer/ performance poet / musician/ youth & community professional and developmental life-coach. He was responsible for the ground-breaking “One Love, One Harmony” performances 1989-2000, creating opportunities for performance artists, irrespective of age, race and community. This was supported by specialist workshops and stage–craft coaching. He is a staunch Intergenerational Practice advocate. Contact Eli  and follow Eli on twitter @eakan.   

Eli will be speaking about the ”The Power of the Elder” on the 29th January 2011 at 6:30pm. This lecture is designed to open-up discussion, concerning the position of the Elder in our society. Such issues as the erosion of cultural & social capital within which the Elder in our community must thrive, are raised for debate. For more details and to book a ticket http://cimarronlectures.eventbrite.com/

Tags: Intergenerational Practice, Social Capital, social work and social care, The Power of the Elder

Related Posts:

• A guide for care organisations developing a social media strategy
• Social Networking Basics for Social Care
• Sharing wisdom and knowledge with thanks to my guest bloggers in 2010
• Death of Michael Leadbetter

Social networking is a fundamental shift in the way we communicate. Three years ago, the term barely existed. I have received a lot of requests for advice about developing social media strategies in the care sector. I thought it would be helpful to share my thoughts and ideas about the challenges and opportunities presented by social networking. Developing a strategic approach is as important to a fledging social enterprise as it is to an established national care organization.

Why councils should embrace social media There can be few social workers unaware of the popularity of social media websites such as Linkedin and Facebook. But how many use them as a means of communicating with clients and to further professional development? (Community Care 11th November 2010)

The public sector needs more ‘Heads of Digital’  with thanks to Michael Taggart

Local government blogging – ideas for you with thanks to Ingrid Koehler

Decide what it is you want to achieve and explore how social networking will contribute to your communications and stakeholder engagement strategy. How effective are your current activities, how do you know what is working well, who are your customers and what is the added value you offer?

1. Undertake a review of your current communications activities including websites, blogs, published materials and events. 

2. Develop a social media policy in consultation with all of the staff and stakeholders

Why all local authorities need a social media policy

A good social media policy is a good idea with thanks to Dave Briggs

3. Provide social media surgeries and workshops to help all staff become familiar with and confident in using social media tools. Encourage feedback and suggestions about how you can improve internal and external communications.

Online resources for getting started with social media

Twitter has over 200 million registered users. It offers a quick and easy way to communicate, access real time information, ask and answer questions, share thoughts and connect with people. Promote your conferences and events by providing a twitter #hashtag to encourage discussion. If possible, have someone tweeting live from the event.

Can twitter make our national care organisations more social?

Introducing #lgovsm a great new initiative started by Louise Kidney tweeting as @LouLouK. #localgsm is a twitter online forum for local government people to discuss social media, ask questions and seek advice. So, if you work in local government and you want to come and chat, see you on Fridays from 1.00 – 2.00 pm. The twitter #hashtag is #lgovsm and the next session will be on 7^th January 2011

How to use Twitter – top tips from the excellent Knowhow Nonprofit website on how to use the Twitter to communicate with your organisation’s supporters.

The Beginners Guide to Twitter Video from the informative SironaSays blog by @andyheadworth

Facebook has over 500 million registered users and is the largest social networking website in the world. Learning Pool have produced an excellent Guide to Facebook pages for government organisations. This comprehensive and free guide takes you through what a Facebook page is (not the same as your individual Facebook profile) and why every public sector organisation should have one.

LinkedIn has over 85 million registered members and is one of the biggest professional networking websites. There are an increasing number of social work and social care groups on LinkedIn. 

The Beginners Guide to LinkedIn is another great free resource @andyheadworth and available to download via the excellent and thought provoking A redundant public servant’s blog

4. Measure and evaluate the return on your investment in social media activities including google alerts and google anlaytics

Social Media and the Case of The Missing Assets The rise of social media has challenged organisations to embrace new ways of connecting and communicating, demanding greater openness, transparency and engagement. What is the potential Return On Investment (ROI) of an approach to social media which develops real relationships with stakeholders? 

General observations

Easily accessible, relevant  and timely information on your website is essential

Be prepared for discussions and conversations which you cannot control but from which there can be considerable learning for the organisation. Be prepared to respond to criticism and questions.

Social networking, in many ways, is all about learning. Social media is one of the most powerful ways to understand what we do and why, learn as we go, and share what we learn with others.

Every day conversations are taking place across the internet about social work and social care. Do you know what is being said about leadership, personalisation, children’s services, workforce development, social learning and commissioning in the care sector?

The Do’s and Don’ts of using Social Media for Business a simple and self explanatory infographic via @andyheadworth

http://twitter.com/shirleyayres

Tags: #lgovsm, communications, facebook, linkedin, social media, social networking, social work and social care, twitter

Related Posts:

• Just how big is social media in the UK?
• Are You Attending Social Media Week London?
• Guest post: DIY solution for hyper local TV
• Guest post: How to Get the Ferrari Enzo Website on a Fiat Panda Budget
• Social Networking Basics for Social Care

“For the first time we have the social tools to make group action a reality. And they’re going to change our whole world” Clay Shirky Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations (2008)

If people had a choice about who was delivering their care services would they chose your organisation? The chill winds of budget cuts, redundancies, #bigsociety, increasing expectations and aspirations mean that public services are under considerable scrutiny. The need for a culture of innovation and creativity in social care is essential if we are to meet the challenge of expectations and aspirations for personalisation.

I predict that social networking, social learning and the use of mobile technology will have an increasingly important role in the care sector. Electronic networks are enabling different forms of collective action and collaborative groups are being formed which connect people across the world.

“The cost of all kinds of group activity has fallen dramatically and social tools provide the capacity for action by loosely structured groups, operating without managerial direction and outside the profit motive” Clay Shirky

There are an increasing range of different tools available which include: twitter, facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, flickr, slideshare, blogs, webinars, podcasts etc. The tools are simply a way of enabling people to share,co-operate and collaborate. These tools used creatively will complement each other but they do need to be used strategically and to make sense for your organisation and audience.

Social networking is about listening; engaging, providing value by solving problems and answering questions and building relationships. An increasing number of people are using online forums to share thoughts and ideas about good practice across the care sector. Is your organisation using social media to extend participation, increase involvement, provide information about projects and potential opportunities and connect with other organizations? 

“No decision about me without me” With the promise of more control and choice in both health and care services there is a growing expectation of honesty, openness and transparency in transactions between citizens and public organisations. Used solely as a broadcast channel social media will not have any significant or positive impact about how people see your organisation. A few tweets, an e-letter, a forum on a website and joining groups without contributing to discussions do not constitute a social media strategy. Do you know where people are already having conversations about social care on the internet?

Developing social media activities is an important part of building a presence and a profile on the internet. But social networking using social media tools will need to become part of the DNA of the whole organisation, led, supported and endorsed by the senior management team. This can involve a substantial mind shift within organisations who see social media solely as a broadcasting and/or marketing channel.

There is a lot of learning and risk associated with launching a public blog. My suggested starting point is the very informative post 7 reasons to launch an internal blog before going public.

The Philosophy of Shirley Ayres Consulting

The Japanese have a word “Kaizen” which translated means “the gathering of the wisdom of the people” The Be Inspired website was launched to provide an independent and innovative web based resource for social work and social care. We are committed to supporting individuals and organisations to make connections and partnerships across sectors and disciplines.

Tags: mobile technology, social learning, social media, social work and social care

Related Posts:

• Sharing wisdom and knowledge with thanks to my guest bloggers in 2010
• GuestBlog: Social Learning through Social Media
• Striking the right chord at #nfpsm
• Welcome to the Third Sector Digital Communications and Social Media 2011 Convention
• #socialcare #socialwork You are not engaged with #socialmedia because?

Wishing everyone a very happy 2011 and a big thank you to all of my guest bloggers in 2010.

“We have enough people who tell us the way it is – now we need a few more people who can tell us how it can be!”

I really appreciate the wealth of thoughts and ideas shared through the following posts”

How long must black bin liners symbolise how we treat children and young people in care?  by Carolyn Barber (@wayfinder2006)http://www.wayfinderassociates.co.uk

How does a systems understanding help teams and services to change their approach? by Brian Lawson http://www.consilientconsulting.com

Emotional Intelligence Teaches Practical Skills for Anger Management by George Anderson (@geoanderson)  http://www.andersonservices.com

Social work practitioners develop a caseload management system by Biri Yaya and Carolyn CousinsKnowledge Management in Social Care – time to embrace the internet? by Carolyn Barber (@wayfinder2006)  http://www.wayfinderassociates.co.uk

Personalisation – the challenges for social work by Simon Duffy www.centreforwelfarereform.org

Is using social media effectively the big challenge for social work? by Stephen Sloss (@stephensloss) Stephen was formerly Director of Adult Social Care and Health Blackburn with Darwen Council and is now CEO at Salvere Social Enterprise CIC.

Can the public sector be more entrepreneurial? by Bill Liao (@liaonet) http://www.stonesoupway.com, http://www.neo.org, http://www.weforest.com

A simple message about Personalisation “Trust More”  by Simon Duffy www.centreforwelfarereform.org

Social Media and the Case of The Missing Assets by Jon Hardie  http://www.audienceworks.com

Why personalisation can only be achieved through creative engagement by Gill Phillips (@WhoseShoes) www.nutshellcomms.co.uk

Using Social Media to Improve Employee Engagement by Dianne Lowther (@DwellPR) http://www.dwellpr.com

Social Learning through Social Media by Euan Semple (@euan) http://www.euansemple.com

Thoughts from a Student Nurse on #demo2010 by @justa2ndyear

Details will be published here shortly about the topics we will be exploring and discussing in 2011

Tags: be inspired, social learning, social media, social work and social care

Related Posts:

• Social Networking Basics for Social Care
• GuestBlog: Social Learning through Social Media
• Can twitter make our national care organisations more “social”?
• Why social media is important for social care – the challenges and opportunities
• Striking the right chord at #nfpsm