Ann Grain MCIPRjag press & publicity

communication

Dramatic change in how we communicate & maintain relationships within our communities

communication physical community isolation?

21st century communicationDifferent tools of communication available in 2013:

provide necessary support decrease sense of isolation make it easier to stay in touch provide contact at any time improve engagement

21st century communication Different communication tools of the 21st century, if

used appropriately, can bring about positive change

the consortium for therapeutic communities Organisation for people who “recognise the influence

of our social environment on how we are, what we learn and how we change.”

“speaks with and for people who...see relationships as central to what they do.”

Digital technology key component of our social environment building relationships

social environment: smartphones

Statistics 94% of adults in UK own/use mobile phone 60.4% of UK mobile phone users have a smartphone

(30.9 million). Expected increase to 80.9% by 2017 (43.4 million)

76% of UK smartphone users browse internet using devices

social environment: activity

Top smartphone activities: taking a photo/video browsing internet sending/receiving email using an application accessing a social network texting; ‘WhatsApp’

social environment: activity?

57% of UK smartphone users visit social media networks every day

55% of adults in UK with home internet use social networking

in USA, Russia, Czech Republic & Spain, c.half of all adults now use social networking sites

UK has second highest proportion of social networkers in the EU (Netherlands 65%, UK 57%; Greece 32%)

popular social media platformsUK Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Google+ expanding dramatically in UK

Pinterest – fastest growing social network in UK 2013

Worldwide Facebook Google+ Twitter

Top 3 in USA: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

social media

challenge

How can online & digital technology help us to build our relationships whilst maintaining the principles which underpin Therapeutic Communities?

Advantages of working with online & digital technology

inclusive accessible reach a wider audience target a specific audience encourage interaction & engagement any time & immediate inexpensive

internet as extended community

digital media: hosting a website

information sharing: resources, articles, links, further information

virtual venue: host discussions, display contributions portal: restricted access facility containing advice &

resources blog: reporting, sharing, having a conversation

digital media: social media

highly participative dissemination is fast opportunity to: - start conversations

- gather data

- consult a potentially wide audience

forums: engage a specific audience drive traffic to your website

digital media: video/image/audio

podcasting: create video or audio podcasts to engage viewers/listeners. Hosted directly on website or via third party sites

video sharing sites: YouTube – opportunity to comment, start a conversation

picture sharing: Picasa & Flickr – engage users to contribute own impressions

challenge

how can we use these tools?Think about: what you are trying to achieve who you are targeting with what messages how you will respond to what flows back what will happen to the intelligence that is generated

Two-way nature of this communication tool has positive implications for service user engagement

service users: facebook

service users: twitter

service users: website

service users: contribution

service users: blogs

service users: forums

improve commissioning

commissioners require accurate, relevant & timely information

using social media

- views can be sought & fed back quickly

- greater individual involvement in services

- less resource-intensive

- build better relationships

21st century opportunities

engagement, participation & relationship building collaborative working having conversations, giving opinions, sharing

information empowering communities providing a voice communicating community

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