Hi
Now that we are no longer producing the magazine we can focus a bit more on what we offer on our website. Are there any particular things that you would like to see us doing? More good practice information? More interactive features? Video/audio? Live debates/discussions?
I'd be interested in your thoughts.
Thanks
Simeon
CareSpace support
I know there are all sorts of job adverts but a lot of them are not genuine.
I would like an alert section whereby people could inform others of what's about.
For instance, Carmarthen were recently advertising for NQSWs.
I agree
real job adverts, not silly non specific ones with agencies, actual ones that would be advertised on councils vacancy lists or in the local paper.
Also something that is more accessible in ipod format
Perhaps a weekly case study where forum contributors are invited to discuss/ advise on how they would have dealt with a particular case. You had something like this in the magazine occasionally.
A better link up between the blogs and the forum.
More information about current research/ journal articles relating to social care. Most SWs don't have time to look at this kind of information on a regular basis, instead using mediums like this.
I used to do a weekly round up of social work blogs around the web - it went down very well and I'd be happy to continue it for community care or if anyone else wanted to - perhaps it could be a weekly feature from different people?
I agree about linking more between the forum and the blogs to create conversations and some way to kick-start the sub-groups.
Potentially we have a great community based around the forum but need to spread it out a bit! Get more people to come in!
Agree with Hatgirl about current research/journals - maybe a discussion specifically around them.
I may well come up with more!
Accurate reporting please, with a tightening up of the occasional sloppiness of writing.
Fewer blogs. I find them quite uninteresting - the format is unappealing, the writing often uninformed and they are merely opinion pieces and thus not particularly useful.
More well written, in depth, well analysed proper articles that actually go into a subject in real depth.
More links to useful research.
More reviews of good books for the social work and allied fields
More links to items in the news related to social care and wider social issues.
And the forum......well, I don't know what exactly to suggest, but although I do enjoy it in there (usually) it seems like there is a wealth of expertise and knowledge with the practitioners in there but it's not made the most of....too many conversations end up as tit-for-tat and point scoring. How can we get the best out of the forum?
Yeah, 'real life' case studies would be very good, perhaps with a variety of practitioners / agencies invited to discuss how they might respond to each case, and back it up with links to/ discussion of the evidence base for the intervention/action.
I have to second you there Selks, I think this way forward would be more helpful on the whole..
Selks: Accurate reporting please, with a tightening up of the occasional sloppiness of writing. Fewer blogs. I find them quite uninteresting - the format is unappealing, the writing often uninformed and they are merely opinion pieces and thus not particularly useful. More well written, in depth, well analysed proper articles that actually go into a subject in real depth. More links to useful research. More reviews of good books for the social work and allied fields More links to items in the news related to social care and wider social issues. And the forum......well, I don't know what exactly to suggest, but although I do enjoy it in there (usually) it seems like there is a wealth of expertise and knowledge with the practitioners in there but it's not made the most of....too many conversations end up as tit-for-tat and point scoring. How can we get the best out of the forum?
Can't see the point of a forum that is an extension of the workplace. Sure, discuss the unusual but not the mundane. If it goes down the supervision extension route, might as well call it just another resource and participation will go up for some and down for others.
We will be asking Simeon to sign things off on a monthly basis next.
Don't envy CC as audience is too diverse, to acheive anything like a concensus.
Suggest two forums. Royalist /conformist/right wing, anti strike anoracks. And a grown up one without the swear filter.
Shirack - look forward to seeing you being a leading light on the Royalist /conformist/right wing, anti strike anoracks Forum.
Rupert M: Shirack - look forward to seeing you being a leading light on the Royalist /conformist/right wing, anti strike anoracks Forum.
I knew you didn't understand me. Hope you made better assessments of your clients.
No, I think that I understand you perfectly!!!
Rupert M: No, I think that I understand you perfectly!!!
You just don't get it. Redana was right.
Shirack - I don't have any Service Users - I'm retired thanks to the LGPS.
I'd be quite happy for certain people to have their own separate forum!
Rupert M: Shirack - I don't have any Service Users - I'm retired thanks to the LGPS.
I said made.
Many years since I 'made' an assessment - I was latterly a manager so left that to others more qualified than myself!
Rupert and Shirack.....the Statler and Wardolf of social work
Boxerdog: Rupert and Shirack.....the Statler and Wardolf of social work
Que?????
Quick Reply
Better than being Manuel.
intereresting articles about social work from different perspectives
The website itself feels a little dated - I'm no expert on these things, but there is just something about it that feels a bit, well, basic. Maybe linking through your twitter feeds, maybe some more colour onto the site... I'll be honest, I'm no expert so I don't know what it is, but it just feels old!
Content wise - some more hosted blogs would probably be good, with a decent commenting ability on them (to encourage interaction). I'd certainly be in favour of cb doing a weekly round up!
The ability to comment direct on stories as well would be nice - even if this is controlled a bit as most news sites are (some take the approach to turn comments on on some stories, others have them on as default and just turn them off sometimes). At the moment the "what do you think? Join the conversation" with just a link to the forums doesn't really encourage interaction.
Probably having more sections visible on the home page (or even better being able to personalise the home page) and have more updates - e.g. to the Risk Factor, Practice Panel etc and being able to select to see news by area - e.g. Children, MH etc. I expect there is a lot of content on here that people never see or use - you need to make it easier to discover content, and probably 'push' it a bit more (making sure there is something to read of course - so a new practice panel ever three months probably won't cut it!).
In terms of the reorganising the threads on carespace it's probably worth explaining that I never ever see what category threads are in - I have a bookmark to a page which just shows all the most recent threads in one list, not sorted so I don't have to click through different links to find what I want, so for me and anyone else who does the same the organisation won't change much I'm afraid.
That's a few ideas - hope it doesn't sound too negative a list - I do like comm care but you asked for suggestions.
Thanks for your comments, everyone. There are a lot of interesting ideas and thoughts there. We'll have a think about all this stuff and start coming up with some plans in the new year.
In the meantime please feel free to continue to use this thread for suggestions or comments.