Why I value the TelecareLin newsletter

I’d like to share a secret. The reason I can keep up to date with the extraordinary pace of technological innovation across the care, health and housing sectors is because of the excellent TelecareLin newsletter produced every month by Mike Clark.

Launched October 2005, this free monthly newsletter is distributed to 48,000 subscribers in the UK and worldwide via e-mail and archived at www.telecarelin.org.uk. You can find highlights on Rebelmouse (daily) or by following Mike Clark on Twitter (@clarkmike). With over 800 news and events links over the last month this is an incredibly valuable resource. Thank you to Innovate UK (previously the Technology Strategy Board), Knowledge Transfer Network and the Telecare Learning and Improvement Network for funding this important resource.

As an example if you have an interest in digital technology and work in  health, care or housing are you aware of the following events taking place in the next few months? (For the full list have a look at the latest newsletter!)

The Age of No Retirement – 1 to 2 October 2014, London https://www.tradingtimes.org.uk/community/95289715/

Inspiration for Independent Daily Living – marketplace event – Maidenhead, 3 October http://www.healthwatchwam.co.uk/social_inspirations_for_daily_living_public_poster_final.pdf

DHACA Members Day II – 7 October, Liverpool
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dhaca-members-day-ii-tickets-12753274387

European Telemedicine Conference, Rome – 7-8 October 2014 http://www.telemedicineconference.eu/ehome/index.php?eventid=92707&tabid=201417&

Medicine 2.0 Europe, Malaga 9-11 October 2014 http://www.medicine20congress.com/ocs/index.php/med/med2014b

Next steps for integrating health and social care, and implementing the Better Care Fund, London, 14 October 2014 http://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/forums/event.php?eid=828

Integrated Care Summit 2014 – London 14 October 2014  http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/events/integrated-care-summit-2014

Connected Healthcare – San Diego 14-15 October 2014 http://www.openmobilemedia.com/connected-healthcare-mhealth-usa/

Technology Enhanced Home Care Forum – Manchester 16 October 2014 http://estratevents.wordpress.com/2014/07/22/technology-enhanced-homecare-forum-brings-together-telehealth-expertise-and-innovation/

National Children and Adult Services Conference 2014, Manchester, 29-31 October 2014 http://www.adass.org.uk/ncasc-2014/

The Scottish Centre for Telehealth and Telecare will this year host the Scottish Digital Health & Care Week in conjunction with the Scottish Government’s eHealth and Joint Improvement Team from November 3 – 7 2014.

Scottish Digital Health & Care Conference – 6 November 2014, Edinburgh http://www.sctt.scot.nhs.uk/events/scottish-digital-health-care-conference/

EHI Live – 4-5 November 2014 Birmingham http://www.ehilive.co.uk/

Innovate UK 2014 – London 5-6 November 2014 https://www.innovateuk.org/-/innovate-uk

There is so much talk about the importance of the digital revolution for promoting more integrated care focused on the person, their needs, hopes, aspirations and lifestyle.  What we have not been so good at doing is connecting all the different elements together and offering connected care to the individual, their family and care and support network.

Thanks Mike from one very grateful beneficiary of the knowledge, wisdom and resources you share so generously!

Exciting update about the Advanced Social Work Practice Network on LinkedIn

I am delighted to announce that Deona Hooper will be taking over the Advanced Social Work Practice Network on LinkedIn. Deona is the the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the internationally renowned Social Work Helper Magazine. I have chosen her to be the new guardian of the  of the Advances Social Work Practice Network Group because she shares my vision for the Network  Although I will no longer be the principal owner of the group, I will remain a member and support Deona in helping her grow and continue to meet the needs of this community.

A brief introduction from Deona

“My vision for this group is to continue using an interdisciplinary approach to discussing advance social work practice. I hope this group will serve as a catalyst to spur international debates and discussions on issues affecting social workers globally. Please, feel free to contact me at deona@socialworkhelper.com with any feedback you may have, or if you are interested in being a moderator for the group. I look forward to connecting with all of you.”

In addition Deona has generously agreed to co-facilitate the Network for Professionals Working with Vulnerable Children and Young People group with me.

As Deona says

“Although we are on opposite sides of the Atlantic, we saw an opportunity to bridge our talents and passion for digital media and communications into a single forum.

My hope is that collectively we will be able to further advance this international platform to increase the reach of individual group members’ voices as well as your ability to connect with other like minds globally. As practitioners, we often share many of the same barriers and challenges when it comes to protecting vulnerable populations no matter our geographical location.This group serves as a perfect place to help facilitate those conversations. I look forward to taking on a more active role and connecting with each of you.”

 

Many thanks Deona and I look forward to a truly international collaboration!

It is with great sadness that I have to announce that this group will be closing  on the 30th September 2014.  I no longer have the resources to continue to support the group and have decided that now is the time to bring it to a close rather than letting it begin a period of unmanaged decline.

It’s been fascinating over the last four years to have been able to watch this community grow, change, learn and develop. When I started the group there were few social work LinkedIn groups available and I am delighted that there are now so many different group to choose from.

I explored with the College of Social Work the possibility of them running the Network to take it forwards but, due to the lack of resources available to develop the group, they declined the opportunity.

The Network has been managed on a voluntary basis by me since it started and I believe part of it’s success has been approving members in a closed group to ensure the professional ethos is maintained and protected. But the reality is that this undertaking requires time and resources to manage as the College of Social Work rightly pointed out.

I hope very much that at least some of the members will start a similar group with a similar ethos building on the strong and involved community here. I really look forward to watching the direction that you will take it in future.

With all good wishes for the future and thanks for your support of the LinkedIn Advanced Social Work Practice Network.

Shirley