Mid year review: the state of DH digital
I joined the Department of Health in August last year. I still sometimes feel like the new boy, but I've been here long enough for people to expect to see results. So how are we doing? When I joined, I …
How to be good at work
Warning: This is a blog about filing and productivity. It makes the case that social tools like Yammer help people to be less busy and more productive. I took a day off a few weeks ago. When I returned to …
But what about the people who can't use the internet?
At some point in just about every presentation I give about digital communication, and our efforts to do it better at the Department of Health, I get asked a version of this question: "That's all very well, but what about all the …
Maps and apps for health - a call for ideas and examples
Smartphones changed the way I use the internet. My previous online behaviour seems almost quaint now. Online maps, for example, were already pretty useful before I could access them on my phone. But a map on my phone - that …
New DH website: A spoiler and some caveats
If all goes to plan this weekend, the corporate bits of the DH web presence will be simpler and a bit easier to use on Monday morning. I've mentioned before what's driving this work, and some of the things that …
What should you put on a government corporate website?
We're about to simplify the content we provide via the Department of Health corporate website. The website won't look that different once we've done it. But we will have made some pretty big changes to the way we generate and …
PHP, cheese reviews, and getting your hands dirty
A long time ago I hand-coded a content management system from scratch using PHP and MySQL for a cheese reviews website. It wasn't a very good CMS, and it was a rubbish website. But I did it - it was …
Digital engagement manager
We're recruiting for a digital engagement manager at the moment. It's an internal recruitment exercise - the job is only available to current civil servants. The role is described in full on the Civil Service Jobs site (login required). Extract: …
Digital communication activity planning: template
Below is a template for planning digital policy engagement and digital communication campaigns and activity. Note: this is a template to plan digital activity. It should be used alongside policy engagement or communications strategy, not replace them. Plans should be …
The mechanics of listening
For the last few weeks in DH we've been pausing to listen, reflect and improve. You can read all about the NHS listening exercise and the work of the NHS Future Forum elsewhere. But for the digital communication team the …