NEWS
SKILLS FOR HEALTH LAUNCHES SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT FOR HEALTHCARE
SECTOR Skills for Health has launched a comprehensive social media toolkit for the UK healthcare sector, providing healthcare organisations and professionals with sector-specific insight, advice and best practice on using social media effectively.
The free toolkit, created with support from Public Health Wales, key industry experts and employers, has been written with healthcare organisations of all sizes and social media capabilities in mind. Whether organisations are new to social media and unsure where to start or want to make sure their existing social presence is fit for purpose.
The toolkit covers everything from strategy to content creation, including guides to the key platforms and leading influencers to follow, examples of best practice, downloadable templates and
MP TAKES UP CAMPAIGN FOR
CARE A campaign being run by Springhill Care Group in Accrington to raise awareness of the unsung heroes of the care sector and the dangers it faces is being taken to the top.
Accrington MP Graham Jones is supporting the initiative by the national care group to highlight the sterling work that is carried out by the industry despite funding cuts – and issuing a stark warning at the same time.
The MP has met with senior representatives from Age UK to discuss the adult social care crisis, written
- 6 -
additional resources, as well as advice on how to encourage organisations to embrace a digital culture.
Dawn Bratcher, Senior Marketing Manager for Skills for Health said: “30% of adults said they would share information about their health on social media and more than 40% said information found via social media affects how they deal with their health.
“Social media plays an ever-growing role in our daily lives, including the way we access and share information. Starting conversations online enables healthcare organisations to raise awareness, share information, engage with existing audiences and reach out to new ones.”
Last year, Skills for Health launched the #OurHealthHeroes campaign on social media to raise awareness of the vital role of the healthcare support workforce. The campaign launched with a YouTube video, filmed using real staff members at Southmead Hospital in Bristol and the hashtag encouraged the public to thank support staff online.
The video was viewed more than 100,000 times and supported by more than 30 trusts and healthcare
to David Mowat MP, the Minister responsible for social care, and is raising a question in Parliament.
He said: “Although the current crisis affects older people across the country, it is hitting poorer, rural constituencies such as Hyndburn the hardest. With ageing populations and insufficient funding from central government, Lancashire County Council is hard-pressed.”
In Lancashire, the county council faces a funding gap in adult social services of £26million, which could rise to £92million by 2021. Its leaders have called on the Government to address this ‘unsustainable’ funding crisis.
Donna Briggs, Managing Director of Springhill Care, said: “We are trying to highlight the issues on behalf
organisations across the UK, with a social reach of over five million. This social success led to the creation of the inaugural Our Health Heroes Awards, which received more than 500 nominations from across the UK.
Dawn continued: “The success of the #OurHealthHeroes campaign shows what a powerful tool social media is for building connections with patients, stakeholders and communities both inside and outside the healthcare sector. It is important to be present in these conversations online, but knowing how to do this effectively is not always straightforward.
“As the Sector Skills Council for the UK healthcare sector, we hope this comprehensive guide will give organisations the knowledge and understanding to use social platforms with confidence. We are proud to be helping the healthcare sector to embrace this important shift in the way we communicate and take steps towards a more digital future.”
Download and share the social media toolkit here:
skillsforhealth.org.uk/socialtoolkit
www.skillsforhealth.org.uk
of our employees and all of those working in the care sector, and we appreciate this support from Graham.
“Our concern extends to the gaps in skills and how we are going to fill them based on current needs and the projections into the future.”
Springhill Care Group is asking people to join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #caringheroes.
The adult social care sector in England faces a gap of 200,000 care workers by the end of this Parliament. The Association of Directors of Adult Services estimates that there is a current funding gap of £1billion a year, while the King’s Fund estimates this gap could rise to £3.5billion a year by 2019.
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
