Social work students and social media

 A social worker explains why they use social media and we unveil our top 100 social care Twitterers.

Is social media, such as Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn a distraction for social work students, or can it be a useful tool? Below, users explain why and how they utilise Twitter and we list our top 100 social care Twitter users.

Please remember that everything you post on Twitter is public and can be seen by the world. So you still need to be careful you are not breaching confidentiality by inadvertently identifying someone.

Why I use Twitter by @CrazyworldofSW, a social worker in child protection:

“The reasons I use social networking to discuss work is that it is a brilliant place to vent. I began using it as a newly-qualified social worker when I asked to keep a reflective diary. I am utterly hopeless at keeping a diary and in fact found it an unrealistic ask in light of my existing work load. A colleague then suggested I tweet instead.

“As a professional noser I love reading what others have to say and putting in my say too so Twitter seemed like the ideal place. I have found that I am anonymously able to rant about drunken parents who swing arms suggestively close to my face or days where I just want to cry under my desk. I am able to tweet in between my visits or while I’m staking a home for movement.

“Tweeting has becoming my reflective diary but I’m able to share it with others. I have loved hearing others share their experiences and also hearing their advice. I was also taught that social workers are not always the expert but banded together through social networking I think we come close, we are a unified force to be reckoned with.”

Advice on using Twitter from public servant @Ermintrude2:

“My secret key to Twitter is not to say anything you wouldn’t attach your name to, even if anonymous.”

“Every comic little anecdote you might share about work could be another person’s tragedy. Be mindful.”

Twitter Social Care 100

Unsure where to start on Twitter? Don’t worry, Community Care has assembled a list of 100 social care Twitterers which you can start following with a single click. Just go to our Social Care 100 list page, click folllow and you can keep up to date with all the latest social care chat from the Twittersphere.

We also have a list of social workers and social work students on Twitter. You can also stay up to date by following the main Community Care Twitter account.

Facebook and LinkedIn

Do you prefer to use Facebook? You can keep up to date with our top stories and discuss them with other social care professionals on Community Care’s Facebook page.

We’re also on LinkedIn. Join Community Care’s LinkedIn group.

You can also discuss social work and course work issues on CareSpace, the forum for everyone in social care.

More information

The debate rages on about whether or not social care staff should be encouraged to use social media. Here, social worker @ermintrude2 ponders the pros and cons

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? Too few, according to social care consultant Shirley Ayres

Jon Bolton advises social care staff to make sure their online presence is professionally appropriate, while remaining alive to the potential benefits of social media for service users