russwebt - Welcome to the blog
I set up this blog to stimulate debate around the rapid changes in the way we deliver public services especially in the arenas of crime and drug and alcohol treatment which I specialise in. The blog went live on 1 September 2011 and initially focused on two key topics:
In the brief 4 month life of this Blog, there have been tremendous developments in both these areas.
Last September, there was only one UK PbR scheme aimed at reducing re-offending, by the end of 2012 there will be at least eight. Indeed, PbR has generated so much interest that I have updated the free resource pack over 20 times.
Things have moved equally quickly in the world of digital engagement; particularly in the public sector. Probation trusts, for example, are starting to realise that social media provides an inexpensive way of raising the profile of the probation service and explaining exactly what probation staff do. Again, when the blog launched, there were only a couple of probation people regularly tweeting, my list now stands at over 50. Feel free to subscribe.
But the blog has also expanded into other areas including using social media for research and developing smart phone apps to engage with drug users and offenders. It was a blog post which first enabled me to connect with U-turn Training who are about to launch their overdose prevention app on Android. I’m currently in conversation with a couple of probation trusts who are developing apps to engage more effectively with offenders.
The blog has been modestly successful with over 5,000 unique visitors and 20,000 page views and, more importantly, has stimulated plenty of comment and debate. Although, like most blogs, discussion tends to happen less in the comments section at the end of posts, more on Twitter, Google+, phone and e-mail – and even occasionally in person!
A blog, of course, is just a waste of hyperspace unless visitors read something that makes them want to express an opinion. I hope you’ll want to post comments and generally get involved.
My New Year’s resolution is to host many more guest posts this year, so if you have an idea for a post about PbR, digital engagement in the criminal justice or drugs sectors or anything else we talk about here – please get in touch.
Welcome.
