Search results for ‘Subject term:"staff development"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 34
How well does it fit? An organizational culture approach to assessing technology use among homeless service providers
- Authors:
- CRONLEY Courtney, PATTERSON David A.
- Journal article citation:
- Administration in Social Work, 34(3), June 2010, pp.286-303.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In the United States, homeless service providers are undergoing significant transformations in their working processes, via the use of new technologies. This study examined how organisational culture affects staff members' use of a homeless management information system (HMIS). Organisational culture and sociotechnical theories suggest that the quality of fit between organisations and technology is critical to successful implementation and use. The sample included seven homeless service providers and 41 individuals, from the Knoxville Continuum of Care, United States. The study tested two hypotheses: first, organisational culture influences staff members' behaviour; and second, organisational culture and individual characteristics interact to influence staff members' behaviour. Findings showed strong interaction effects between organisational culture and gender. Women in the sample report higher average levels of HMIS use than men, but the difference diminished as organisations grow more rigid, proficient, or resistant. Also, organisational rigidity, proficiency, and resistance are positively related to HMIS use. The authors suggest that the findings imply the diffusion of new technologies like the HMIS is a complex, continual process requiring constant examination of its effectiveness during implementation.
The Changing face of learning technology
- Editors:
- SQUIRES David, CONOLE Grainne, JACOBS Gabriel
- Publisher:
- University of Wales
- Publication year:
- 2000
- Pagination:
- 188p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Originally published in the journal ALT-J, the papers in this collection illustrate how the field of learning technology has developed since the journal was launched in 1993. The papers are divided into four sections: design and evaluation of technology mediated learning environments; institutional change; learning technology in a networked infra structure; and reflections on future possibilities.
The national grid for learning Scotland: summary of progress report 4
- Author:
- SCOTLAND. Scottish Executive
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Executive
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 19p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
The National Grid for Learning (NGfL) Scotland was launched in August 1998 to ensure the educational benefits of information and communication technology (ICT) to schools and the wider education community. This document sets out the background to the NGfL Scotland, the contribution of SEED and records the progress with the three key ICT areas with which the NGfL Scotland is concerned: infrastructure, staff development and content development.
The national grid for learning Scotland progress report 4
- Author:
- SCOTLAND. Scottish Executive
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Executive
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 47p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
The National Grid for Learning (NGfL) Scotland was launched in August 1998 to ensure the educational benefits of information and communication technology (ICT) to schools and the wider education community. This document sets out the background to the NGfL Scotland, the contribution of SEED and records the progress with the three key ICT areas with which the NGfL Scotland is concerned: infrastructure, staff development and content development.
Access and use of information technology by human service providers
- Author:
- HUGHES Robert
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Technology in Human Services, 16(1), 1999, pp.1-16.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
A random sample of 149 human service providers in Ohio were surveyed by mail about their use of information technology. Findings indicate that about three quarters had computers on their desks, over half had access to email and the WWW from their own computers. Those providers who were in direct service were less likely than those in administration to have computer access. Across the entire sample, human service providers strongly agreed with the need to use Internet for educating clients and professional development. In general, providers reported limited access to many types of information and strong needs for assistance in developing information technology skills. Suggestions for future directions are discussed.
Digital working strategy update
- Author:
- SKILLS FOR CARE
- Publisher:
- Skills for Care
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 4
- Place of publication:
- Leeds
This document explores how the principles and actions set out in the Digital working, learning and information sharing strategy (2014) are being embedded into practice. The strategy describes a vision of the use of technology as a day today part of the lives of the adult social care workers providing care and support, and of people with care and support needs. This paper draws on discussions by leaders from the private and voluntary sector, focusing on existing good practice in digital working, learning and information sharing. Discussions included how to improve the digital skills of staff and the need for increased confidence and competence within social care to articulate their needs to technologists; how delivery of learning via technology is now an essential component to learning; the potential of digital technology to enhance the lives of people with care and support needs; using digital technologies in the best interests of people needing care, supporting their choice and independence; and sharing digital information securely and transparently. Examples were given at the leadership summits of technology suppliers and care providing organisations coming together to meet challenges and be able to evidence impact. Key gaps were identified in basic digital skills within the workforce, with the preferred method of learning to increase skills being peer to peer learning. (Edited publisher abstract)
Developing digital practitioners: discovery report and model
- Authors:
- EDGAR Matt, et al
- Publisher:
- Leeds City Council
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 23
- Place of publication:
- Leeds
This report summarises findings and recommendations of the Digital Practitioner Programme to develop digital skills in health and care, as part of Leeds Local Digital Roadmap. The report identifies some of the barriers to building workforce digital capability and putting it to work for patients and service users: past experiences of technology that promised to make things easier but actually got in the way; concerns about digital excluding people, in particular the most vulnerable service users; confusion and concern about information governance and risk; and digital confidence in one context does not automatically translate into another. The report sets out a model to develop workforce digital capability, which comprises the following recommendations: fix the basics; help practitioners reflect on the relevance of digital to their roles; enable teams and individuals to pull support when, where and how they need it; keep a constantly updated and easily accessible set of resources; offer a range of learning opportunities to fit the time available; support managers to enable their teams; and recognise the role of senior leaders. (Edited publisher abstract)
Can information and communication technologies support patient engagement? A review of opportunities and challenges in health social work
- Authors:
- CRAIG Shelley L., LORENZO Maria Victoria Calleja
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 53(9), 2014, pp.845-864.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article highlights some of the innovative ways in which information and communications technologies (ICT) have been adopted and adapted to augment social work practice within health care. The need for social workers to become proficient in the use of newer technologies, opportunities for implementing ICT within a health care setting, and potential challenges at the professional, ethical, and systemic level are explored. The article considers the use of ICT to improve interprofessional communication and decision making, streamlining case management, facilitating rapid assessments and clinical interventions, improving patient self-management and self-efficacy. Using the available literature as a guide, recommendations and strategies to strengthen implementation of ICTs into health social work are provided. These include the recommendation to include social workers in ICT development and adoption decisions; provide ICT training; use ICT for professional development; develop clear guidelines for ICT use, and invest in social work and ICT research initiatives. (Edited publisher abstract)
Creating a learning community in today's world: how blogging can facilitate continuing professional development and international learning
- Authors:
- BODELL Sarah, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(6), June 2009, pp.279-281.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Blogs are publicly accessible websites that are authored by one or several individuals (Boulos et al 2006). These individuals post regular entries and encourage comment on their work, thereby creating discussion and debate. Preliminary evidence suggests that blogging facilitates learning, assists personal and professional development, and provides an opportunity to reflect on issues raised by others from different cultural perspectives (Martin 2007). This opinion piece is based on the shared experiences of five occupational therapy bloggers from the United Kingdom, Aotearoa/New Zealand and the United States and suggests that blogging has a key role in demonstrating evidence of continuing professional development in a globalised community.
Specialist registrar training: at the crossroads (again)
- Authors:
- VASSILAS Christopher A., BROWN Nicholas
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatric Bulletin, 29(2), February 2005, pp.47-49.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
What is now required is a more focused yet flexible system of training that can cope quickly with changes in demand for trained psychiatrists. With pressures on psychiatric trainees from a variety of sources, i.e. deaneries, consultant vacancies and changes in training for other grades, the time has come to look again at how to optimise higher training. Greater emphasis will need to be given to the training, accreditation and continuing training of trainers. In contrast to the current informal methods, it is suggested that to become a trainer all prospective candidates will be required to undergo basic preparation for education, e.g. principles of adult learning, the educational cycle, supervision and its uses, principles of assessment and appraisal. They would then need to demonstrate continuing learning as part of their personal development plan.