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To avoid using up valuable time in my session I am making some admin / housekeeping type notes here.

This space is public, this is to allow the wider #SocialWork community to engage with the subject matter

'Researching the Contribution of Social Work Education to the Digital Professionalisation of Students in Readiness for Practice in the Digital Age'

and contribute should they so wish.

Contributions (posts) in the space can be made anonymously by not signing in with a Padlet account, if you have one.

The decision to use this space in this way was so that I could maximise the time available in the physical space (Dodder B - Wed 4th July16.35pm)

Please feel free to contribute, post resources, have discussions, make comment on the presentation and to answer the question I pose to you the Social Work Community (SEE TILE LABELLED MY QUESTION TO YOU COLLEAGUES).

For notifications of activity in this space click on the little heart symbol in the top right corner

I am very much looking forward to @SWSD2018 and to hearing your thoughts about Digitalisation and Social Work

Amanda https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-taylor-b3810647/?trk=public-profile-join-page

@amltaylor66 https://twitter.com/AMLTaylor66

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Map your presence online...

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Social Work & Digitalisation: bridging the knowledge gaps AMLTaylor Academic Paper 

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Social Work & Digitalisation: bridging the knowledge gaps AMLTaylor Academic Paper 

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http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02615479.2017.1361924?journalCode=cswe20

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Why are we(me), at this stage in the 21st century, still asking questions about preparing social work students for practice in a digitally saturated world?

Please comment below... share papers, resources, thoughts. Lets try to get a global conversation going here - about a topic that is gaining momentum

Amanda

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Maybe it's easier for us to say students are distracted by tech and it's bad than address our own teaching failures and the need to change approach.

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Maybe it is because academics fear going into areas where they know less than students. Despite all the talk of ‘student-centred learning’ it is not always present in practice

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Hi Amanda, you raise important questions about how technology can inform contemporary practice.

Hope the conference goes well for you and all delegates.

Regards, your colleague

@diver_cs

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One of the challenges for me has been that the institution hasn't supported me enough to gain confidence in using a range of digital technologies which I can then use/share with students. All my learning has been done in my own time with informal support. Yet social workers absolutely need to know the opportunities and risks of using digital technologies for 21 century practice. Curriculum review and ongoing advocacy needed!

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One of the challenges for me has been that the institution hasn't supported me enough to gain confidence in using a range of digital technologies which I can then use/share with students. All my learning has been done in my own time with informal support. Yet social workers absolutely need to know the opportunities and risks of using digital technologies for 21 century practice. Curriculum review and ongoing advocacy needed!

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Any other thoughts or comments you would like to make before, during, after my session - please post here...

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Any other thoughts or comments you would like to make before, during, after my session - please post here...

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Takeaway messages from the husITa stream @SWSD18 

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Takeaway messages from the husITa stream @SWSD18 

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Click on the link below to add to a world cloud that is aimed at capturing the thinking of the profession as this time - comment on 'The Future of Social Work in the Connected Age'
Once you click on the link you will see ten boxes on your screen... post your thoughts on the title above - you can add to the poll as many times as you like https://www.menti.com/dc7ffff6

I will post the completed word cloud on Twitter using #husITa18 #SWSD2018 on Saturday evening
Amanda

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 Social media: should you approach it like a toddler, parent, professional or president?

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 Social media: should you approach it like a toddler, parent, professional or president?

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This is a (light hearted) reflective blog about my learning to use social media as a social worker and educator. It highlights some possibilities and pitfalls. Caroline Aldridge

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I was prompted to write this blog by a pair of sparkly shoes on a Social Worker's Tweet. Amazing shoes and a positive 'anonymous' post. But it still made me pause and think about how easily professionals can trip up on social media. I am no expert in digital technology. If you asked my nearest and dearest they would have plenty of stories to share of my blunders. Nothing major but a few squirm moments. In my journey, from fledgling Facebook user through to novice blogger, I have at different times been a techno toddler, teenager, parent or professional. Sharing my learning from these approaches could help others manage the exciting (and terrifying) world of social media. Do please use this as a starting point for dialogue. I am curious to know what other people think.

My friends and family were all established on Facebook for years before I braved creating an account. I was worried about how much information becomes publicly available and the way this makes people vulnerable. Not for me. No. No. Absolutely not! ...

Then I became grandmother and I realised I was missing out on the opportunities social media offers to connect virtually. I created an account without really understanding the world I was exploring. Actually I had almost no idea but I thought I was clever. I used a name only my closest circle would recognise and a quilt image for my icon. Ten minutes later my first post appeared on my timeline. "Mum, are you on Facebook? If so please don't 'like' anything or comment on my posts". How on earth had that happened? Who else could work out I was me? I was reminded of how curious toddlers mimic what they have seen but really have not quite got it... like demonstrating their scissor skills by trimming their own hair.

First lesson learnt: The technology is way more sophisticated and connected than you can ever imagine. It will always be ahead of you!

Nevertheless, the lure of daily posts of a precious grandchild's day was irresistible and I became a convert. I tightened my privacy and gained confidence. I set myself some 'rules' (no swearing, liking or commenting on posts that could potentially breach any professional codes, keeping posts and comments positive, and not linking myself to work on personal accounts). I have been grateful for those self-imposed boundaries although I am not sure if I have the balance right.

I created a professional account using my own name, without any 'friends' in the belief that I could keep my professional and personal self separate. I was (rather smugly) teaching the professional use of social media to students. Like a protective parent I was explaining potential consequences and urging caution. Then suddenly my personal and professional lives collided. A student announced that they had found my personal Facebook account...and they could see everything! Heart stopping moment of panic....Some of my most recent posts related to something deeply personal to me and, although it was no secret, it was something I had not wanted to share with my students. I shared my discomfort with the students and we explored together how we manage the boundaries around our personal and professional lives.

Lessons two, three, and four:

-Never say 'my privacy settings are really tight' - someone is bound to take up the challenge!

-How to turn heart sink moments into learning opportunities

-The impossibility of anonymity

And five - You cannot separate your professional and personal lives on social media because the sophisticated algorithms link us whether we realise it or not!

Teenagers are renowned for their impulsive behaviours and impulsiveness equals trouble in the world of social media. Just think Donald Trump with his late night tweets here! However the adolescent brain is undergoing a burst of rapid development and growth. We need some of the teenaged approach if we are going to take risks, innovate and enter fresh environments. It is my inner teen that pushes me to try out new things, to have a go and feel excited by possibilities.

So 'think before you post' is great advice. Once it is out there it is out there. The ambulance driver who photographed a note left on their vehicle, and tweeted it without thinking through the consequences, probably wishes they paused before posting. It went viral and resulted in a patient's confidential information being widely shared (Johnson, 2017).

If you would not say it openly, in your own name, then perhaps it's best not to say it.

What can we say? Professional codes of conduct offer some guidance on how to behave professionally on social media. For example, the HCPC code says - "You must use all forms of communication appropriately and responsibly, including social media and networking sites" and "You must make sure that your conduct justifies the public's trust and confidence in you and your profession" (www.hpc-uk.org). The Nursing and Midwifery Council has a similar code of conduct. They spell out what 'responsible' use of social media means in Guidance on Using Social Media Responsibly (https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/guidance/social-media-guidance/). I would suggest it's worth a read and a sensible guide for any professional working with people. It's not rocket science but it might make you think.

The consequences for professionals can be serious. I set my students the task of being the 'panel' that determined the outcome of some complaints relating to social media use. What my students did not know was that all the cases were real and had resulted in job loss or removal from a professional register. This activity prompted some great debate. We discovered that some supermarket chains actually sack people for simply stating who their employer is on social media. They can do this because it's in their policy or contract. Do you know what your employer's policy says?

Maybe you might want to stop and think about what 'digital footprint' you already have? Are there photos of you on boozy nights out online? Have you made comments about your bad day at work? Or used sexually explicit, discriminatory or aggressive language? Are you sure you have not accidentally breached confidentiality?

Despite the pitfalls social media offers so many possibilities for professionals. I get inspired by the things people share on social media and it is a fantastic way of sharing knowledge. So I want to encourage us to use it. I wonder which approach you use...toddler, teenager, or professional?

I will finish in 'parent' mode...

Keep safe and protect your professional reputation.

And... a note to the Tweeter with the sparkly shoes: I covet your shoes would recognise them anywhere. They render your pseudonym useless to anyone who meets you wearing them.

Johnson, S. (23rd November 2017) 'I got a 'don't block my drive' note on my ambulance: this is what happened next' in The Guardian

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I was prompted to write this blog by a pair of sparkly shoes on a Social Worker's Tweet. Amazing shoes and a positive 'anonymous' post. But it still made me pause and think about how easily professionals can trip up on social media. I am no expert in digital technology.

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Deb Stanfield here Amanda, thinking about your question. Some kind of conspiracy I think. Look forward to catching up 😊

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This is a blog post I wrote a while back with some guidelines I thought of to try and encourage more people to write about social work in a way that ensured we shared our stories but in a way that respected those who rely on us. It was based on my experiences of blogging about social work between about 2007 and 2012 (with some breaks!)

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I used to write blogs about social work. They became relatively popular within their own niche. This doesn't make me an expert about anything, not social work, not blogging and not writing but it has given me experience of doing so. As writing online, offline and everywhere we like in short, long and micro forms has grown, I thought it might be useful for some starting to think about writing more frequently about social work issues to have a few useful tips. I do this because I want to read about social work issues so get out there and just start writing!

There are many places to write or share thoughts professionally so consider the one that works best for you. Try a few. There's nothing wrong in not writing specifically for an audience, best to start by writing for yourself and think about what you would want to read. It doesn't matter if the audience is 1 or 1000000 if it is bringing you pleasure, satisfaction and learning. Some of the most common platforms are easily findable and all have slightly different purposes - you might want your own domain and website and choose a platform like Wordpress which is easily customisable - or use the free Wordpress platform. Then there are more visual friendly platforms like Tumblr. I like Medium now - I ran sites on Wordpress for a number of years and they are good if you want your 'own' space - but Medium works well for the occasional piece that doesn't need much tinkering. It's a good place to start for longer form pieces and to get to grips with writing regularly - see how much time you want to spend in it. It is also worth noting that Community Care and Guardian Social Care Network look for articles from people in the field. You don't need special 'skills' or experience to write for them and it is satisfying to see 'someone else' publish your thoughts so worth approaching them if you want to have a go.

2. Find a voice

You have a voice. You just need to exercise it and it will develop. If you have a 'take' on social work matters it helps - whether it is related to the work you do or the stage of career you are at (newly qualified, student, moving into a new role within work, just reflecting the type of work you do, or managing life and social work simultaneously). You don't have to aim for hundreds of hits while you get used to writing. Something I did was to 'promise' myself to write something every day. It was a challenge sometimes when I was busy and had a lot going on but there was usually something I could find in the news to write about. It doesn't have to be every day but a schedule is helpful to get into the habit of writing and as you write, it will be come easier to write more. As you write and respond to things that happen, you will pay more attention to 'social work news', issues etc and as people respond to you, your voice and pitch will develop and grow. You may or may not want to use a pseudonym. There are pros and cons whichever way you go. Think about what you want to achieve. If it's about 'getting out of social work' or making a name for yourself, you may need your name and identity - if it's about 'telling it as it is', you may want a pseudonym. It also depends on your current job and the attitude of your employers towards social media. Just remember, you can have influence without necessarily losing your anonymity. It's an odd thing but it's not impossible.

3. Find an audience

Your audience will, more likely find you as much as you find them. Twitter is a good outlet as there is a rich stream of people looking for longer content willing to support and share information but other social networks can be used too - facebook groups, for example. If you are looking for an audience, it's important to remember you can't dictate who your audience will be. If you are talking about the difficulties or stresses of your job, remember those who experience social work from the sharper end of forced involvement, will also be reading so comfortable 'in' jokes about how difficult your job is can come across as distasteful at best and offensive at worst. It is not in your gift to dictate who will be reading. You are not having a 'joke' with colleagues. You are sharing your impression of social work with the world and have a responsibility to those who you work with and for - and to the profession - to remember that and always treat people you work with, with respect. Frustrations with people you work with, that happens, we are human but the place for discussing those frustrations is in your office or preferably, in supervision or reflective practice sessions, not on the internet in social media. Imagine coming home from a meeting with a social worker and seeing a social worker moaning about the 'awful' client that they have just met and how draining their day at work has been. No, it may not be about you personally, but it may make people less trusting of those who they rely on in their most difficult moments. We owe it to those we work with, for and alongside to display responsibility in posting. It's not about what the HCPC says, it's about what our individual and professional ethics demand.

Having been 'outed' myself at one point to my employer, when I was writing an anonymous blog (and they were fine with it because there was nothing they saw that was disrespectful or put any confidentiality into question), I'd say the key things to remember when posting anything online in an open forum - whether that's twitter, Facebook, a personal blog or a shared blog is never to post anything you wouldn't be happy for your manager, your parent/child/partner, a service user you worked with, your regulator or a future employer to read. Even if you are anonymous, even if you are on a locked account.

4. Have fun

Only write as long as it is enjoyable for you to do so. I stopped writing when I changed jobs and I just didn't feel the same drive to write that I had previously. It's easy sometimes to feel pressurised to keep writing, especially if you have an audience. It is a lovely ego boost when you do build an audience and people tell you they like what you are writing. Then, people start to listen to what you say and if you aren't used to that, it can be a big of a drug-like euphoria - or it was for me. I realised that people who would never have paid a blind bit of notice to anything I said, suddenly were interested when I had a blog with X thousand 'hits' or suddenly had 'X thousand' followers on twitter. I wanted to say more to keep people 'interested' in me. Then I realised that actually this isn't 'reality'. While it's nice, if it is causing me stress because people are being unpleasant or just because I feel the need to write something funny or interesting to keep an audience interested, it isn't worth it. I have enough stress in my day job without creating it outside work. It isn't to say it isn't worth it. It can be enormously rewarding but it's important to stop when it stops being rewarding and starts feeling like a second job. Unless you actually want a second job so you can replace the first job. Write and grow as long as you are enjoying it. Remember you don't 'owe' it to anyone to keep writing or interacting and certainly not if you aren't enjoying it anymore. Saying that, it can be a great hobby/pastime and can lead to significant learning.

5. Interact

The joy of social media is the conversation that happens around it - and sometimes the richest conversations happen in the directions we least expect. I have learnt so much more which has actively changed my practice from people who use social work services than from those who work in social work organisations (sorry - but it's true). Remember to learn rather than preach. Remember that the key to good social work practice is having the humility to learn and grow rather than saying 'this is how I do things'. The richness of interaction is that with the power imbalance, those service users we work with may never be able to explain to us directly how they experience our input with them because - however, nice and friendly we think we are, we will always have that power but we can learn from listening to the experiences of others in respect to social work services. Even if you don't choose to write, I'd say everyone should choose to read. Maybe a good new year's resolution for next year....

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Writing about Social Work - How, why and where. - Ermintrude - Medium

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I used to write blogs about social work. They became relatively popular within their own niche. This doesn't make me an expert about anything, not social work, not blogging and not writing but it has given me experience of doing so.

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Professionalism Social Work and the Digital Age AMLTaylor Blog Post 

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Professionalism Social Work and the Digital Age AMLTaylor Blog Post 

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https://www.husita.org/professionalism-social-work-and-the-connected-age/

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Mapping Your Professional Learning Network

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Professionalism Social Work and the Digital Age AMLTaylor Blog Post 

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Professionalism Social Work and the Digital Age AMLTaylor Blog Post 

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https://www.husita.org/professionalism-social-work-and-the-connected-age/

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The Unintended Consequences of I Daniel Blake AMLTaylor Blog Post  

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The Unintended Consequences of I Daniel Blake AMLTaylor Blog Post  

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https://amltaylor66.wordpress.com/2017/06/02/the-unintended-impacts-of-i-daniel-blake/