Local Authority Downloading Restrictions

[Hilary Mason]

We have some new restrictions due to come into place within the Local Authority which I have blogged about here

Do you have restrictions and do they impact on your work? If so have you managed to solve them? Any support would be appreciated, thanks!

[Katie Bacon]

Hi Hilary,

I'm thinking 'stuck between a rock and a hard place' - It's very frustrating when decisions are made with wide repercussions and possibly little or no consultations/dialogue with the various departments/front line practitioners. Cor heck- do LAs departments need to speak to each other more with open reflective attitudes - come on people!

My approach in Devon has been to build and maintain an open dialogue with the ICT department by sharing concepts, added benefits and gains to Devon county council. Presenting case studies and anticipating barriers and presenting possible solutions. I echo Tim davies comments on your blog "To restrict downloading and uploading of materials via the web seems bizzare. It reduces computers from useful tools, into mere word processors.

ICT support/department is about enablement not dictatorship - In Devon however, the ICT department has been supportive and willing to listen. I did make the strategic decision to make sure that I was not the only making request I approached the head of youth service to gain consent (written explicitly in an e-mail) then identified allies within Devon County Council to approach the ICT department - Team leader from youth service, Business Solutions and Innovation manager and myself.

I think the below quote has some key points that could be presented to managers and ICT that organisations need to consider their 'duty and role in safeguarding children and young people online.' In some departments this maybe interpreted as blocking/preventing access. However, within the youth practitioner sector there is a growing recognition for the necessity for youth practitioners to be engaging with young people in youth work settings and online (appropriately risk assessed and planned) about how to keep themselves safe and also encourage young people to access and experience loads of good learning opportunities on the internet.

The threat our children face is not about technology – it’s about people. When it comes
to safeguarding, we should make no distinction between the offline and the online worlds. Child protection is everyone’s business in all areas. This is about the behavior of offenders manipulating any environment in order to abuse children. It is critically important that our children and young people are afforded the same protection whether
they are in their local park, chatting to friends online via mobile technology or researching their homework on the internet. Of course, delivering these safeguarding measures brings a range of responsibilities for ourselves and others.
Chief Executive’s statement Jim Gamble QPM CEOP report 2009/09

Best of luck and I hope the policy from Milton Keynes is useful.

[Tim Howell]

Hi Hilary,

Of I do miss living beside the seaside!!!

Milton Keynes is getting very proactive. I have worked on a huge draft policy which is being taken to SMT for the directorate in the next few months, in the meantime the youth service task group for social media has been devolved authority to experiment but with mind to the 'most cautious and prudent actions possible' this has included facebook groups and individuals, you tube postings and MSN, bebo, myspace etc...The most adventurous are probably youth cabinet members!! Personally, I am looking to see how we can evidence outcomes (participation, recorded outcomes etc) on social media through a bespoke on line survey, although the most user friendly site for this seems to Bebo, but that is less popular with older young people.

If our policy gets approved I will check in with my managers and see if I can email you a copy; afterall there is a developing partnership relationship with WSCC, particularly after all your help with the youth cabinet elections!

Say hi to everyone!

Tim Howell (ex-Littlehampton Neighbourhood)