This week @gopaldass and I ran a workshop with an NHS Foundation Trust Board of Directors in the Midlands – sharing our learning and thinking about the opportunities and challenges of social networking from personal, professional and organisational perspectives.
It struck me that we are so used to an NHS discourse around risk, compliance and assurance that we unconsciously and perhaps even automatically frame a conversation about social networking in this way. It is of course right to carefully consider the challenges and risks of social media and it would be erroneous not to. But it can too easily sabotage an appreciation of the potential of social media to provide a space for more transparent and open dialogue.
That’s why I was so delighted when one participant shouted out ‘we just need to be brave!’ and with this one comment turned our discussion towards the exciting possibilities afforded by social networking. Now that for me is leadership – a willingness to take a risk and innovate, try something new and experiment without knowing where it might lead.
Is your organisation prepared to be brave?
It would be interesting to look at policies and attitudes within MH in-patient services to use of social media. I can remember having my phone/lifeline made redundant by the removal of the charger (as it had a cord, albeit a very short one). I have had many discussions with persons whom, like myself, benefit enormously by access to social media to the extent that I believe it to be a part of my wellbeing, due to an aversion to social occasions.
In assessing risk, one should not only consider the possibilty of negative outcomes (fueled also by the tragic, yet small number, of cases of suicide linked to the internet) but also consider the risks of removing an aspect of someone’s daily life.
thank you for your comment and yes I completely agree. I don’t think many places have policies for inpatient settings but colleagues are developing one for services in the Trust I work for – very important 🙂
I think you sum up my sentiment in a few paragraphs that I shared in about 1,600 words in a recent blog post. You’re so right too; the question is really which poses the greatest and which the least risk. Too often people don’t consider the risk of doing nothing, only the risk attached to a particular approach action.
Thank you for your comment Kenny. Yes risks cut both ways don’t they and it’s very important to fully consider the risk of opting out of digital spaces – you’re going to get talked about anyway, that’s for sure!