By Bronagh MiskellyEd Balls, the children's, schools and families secretary, was able to stand up for social workers today thanks to Twitter and the efforts of Community Care reporter Amy Taylor.
It started with a Tweet - Balls announced on the social networking site Twitter this morning that he hoped to wear a "Thank God for Social Workers" badge when giving a speech to the Association of Directors of Children's Services, if the badge reached him in time.
The badges were produced by Take a Break magazine which was inspired by Community Care's Stand Up Now for Social Work campaign. Community Care's deputy editor Emma Maier had sent a badge to Balls but it seemed he had not received it.
A flurry of Twitter messages between the Community Care team and the minister followed, including the promise of a badge.
Next a text message was sent to Community Care journalist Amy Taylor who was attending the conference and who happened to have some of the badges in her bag. Amy intrepidly made her way through Balls' entourage to deliver the prized item and the world was rewarded with a Twitter message from Balls stating he was wearing the badge on stage.
This was followed up with the photographic evidence - a picture posted online by Balls of himself, Amy and Kim Bromley-Derry, ADSC president, proudly displaying the Thank God message.
Having a cabinet minister make a visible effort on an issue like this is very important for the profession especially if it turns out to be backed up by action.
A flurry of Twitter messages between the Community Care team and the minister followed, including the promise of a badge.
Next a text message was sent to Community Care journalist Amy Taylor who was attending the conference and who happened to have some of the badges in her bag. Amy intrepidly made her way through Balls' entourage to deliver the prized item and the world was rewarded with a Twitter message from Balls stating he was wearing the badge on stage.
This was followed up with the photographic evidence - a picture posted online by Balls of himself, Amy and Kim Bromley-Derry, ADSC president, proudly displaying the Thank God message.
Having a cabinet minister make a visible effort on an issue like this is very important for the profession especially if it turns out to be backed up by action.
Thank you for your social work blogging post on "the Power of Twitter." I have totally come to love Twitter and the power of social media too. I would love to hear more blog posts on how your audience uses twitter and other social media to encourage and promote social change, particularly that of social workers.
Sincerely,
Daniel Tetreault.
Father.