Be Inspired! Shirley Ayres Consulting

“We don’t want to be ‘Left Out In The Cold’ ”, say Britain’s disabled people.  On the eve of the second reading of the government’s controversial Welfare Reform Bill on 9th March, a stark image of disabled campaigner Kaliya Franklin aims to convey how vulnerable some of the bills proposals will leave sick and disabled people across the UK.

The photograph depicts a naked Franklin lying on the sand on a wintry beach, next to her empty wheelchair.

Just like Franklin’s wheelchair in the image, social care and support will be left out of reach for many of those most in need if these reforms go ahead, literally leaving many “Left Out in the Cold.”

“We decided to use one thought provoking image to make our point,” explains Franklin. “Sick and disabled people are often left voiceless in society, so we hoped using a single image might reflect this.”

Says Franklin, “It’s vital we all remember we are just an accident or illness away from becoming disabled. Many people think if they do become disabled that the state will look after them.

“But the fact is that even under current provisions, disability benefits are not enough for disabled people to live on. If the Welfare Reform Bill is passed, the situation will become unimaginably worse.”

In January, Franklin released a video on YouTube that explained how able-bodied people would be in for a major shock if they found themselves needing to apply for disability benefits. The video can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7EXSpmrVMU.

The Broken of Britain group has been campaigning since summer 2010 to raise awareness of the government’s wider anti-disability policies. The group has consistently drawn attention to disabled people being the target of unjust government rhetoric and sham consultations, tabloid slander and political myths.

It says: “We are now the targets of deep and damaging cuts to disability services that are contained in and symbolised by the Welfare Reform Bill. The Bill disguises cuts and changes to a number of benefits, from housing benefit to Income Support that will punish disabled people.”

Tags: disability, social justice, social work and social care, the Broken of Britain campaign

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 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

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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

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“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

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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

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It is with regret and great sadness that the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has announced the death of its Chairman, Michael Leadbetter.

Michael worked as Chairman for CWDC from 2007 and was a leading figure in the children and young people’s workforce, particularly in social work, driving reform at grass-roots level.

He was previously Director of Social Services in Tameside in Greater Manchester, and Essex, Greater London for 17 years. He was also President of The Association of Directors of Social Services 2002-03.

I knew Michael personally and he was an inspiration to me. He was always supportive and his wisdom and wise counsel will be sorely missed.

His final paper the CWDC response to the Social Work Taskforce, will be reviewed on the website next week.

Tags: best practice, challenging the status quo, maverick, michael leadbetter, radical, social work and social care

Related Posts:

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