3 minute read

How workers introduce our apps

We love that the voices of children and young people are present in the way we build our apps. We do not simply move a paper process online but re-imagine it from the ground up; moving away from old processes often considered archaic by young people. As we do a lot of work with young people to ensure the apps suit and work best for them, today we are hearing how workers introduce our apps to their young people and children.

Keep it simple

Workers at Gloucestershire and Havering children’s services were kind enough to share with us their experience with the apps and most importantly how they introduced the apps and encouraged young people to use it more than once. As you read on, you’ll find once signed up and or downloaded, the rest worked for itself and the key to getting young people to engage with the apps is to keep it simple.

Just as our young people need a voice, we believe your voice is equally important when engaging with our apps and who better to hear from than fellow workers leading from the front.

Hearing from workers themselves

Here are some useful ways workers have introduced our apps:

I have spoken to parents and children about it.  Those who are old enough have managed it on their own… I have sent WhatsApp screen shots of the app and where needed talked them through the process. Using the One app in an assessment team – Cotswolds assessment team 

I introduce the App by explaining it is another way that a young person can contact me and share how they feel.  I have emailed the information sheet out, followed up with sending the information by text or WhatsApp.  I have also incorporated the Mind of my Own App on the family safety plan so the children can let me know if there is a problem. Using the One app in a family support team – Tewkesbury family support team

This worker found that introducing the one app as a safe place to record a diary allowed young people to open up:

Young person is having a very difficult time at home and is a crisis case. Young person has been using Mind Of My Own as a diary to express her thoughts and feelings. She has found this helpful for her own purpose in dealing with a very difficult and vulnerable situation. Social Care Practitioner 

Another worker found a way to introduce the apps to other young people was by encouraging them to use it to provide feedback after their sessions.

I have found Mind Of My Own to be useful with a young person I’m working with. She has used it to feed back after our sessions I continue to offer this to all children I have worked with. London Borough of Havering  

It may seem easy to just tell a person to use something, but to get them to follow through can be harder unless they’re given the opportunity to explore and make the choice themselves.

What way do you think is the best way to introduce Mind Of My Own?