Throughout our 160 year history, 91¶¶Òõ has put the needs of young people first by providing integrated and innovative services. Our dedicated staff, whatever role they have in the 91¶¶Òõ family, are essential to making this happen. We are all frontline workers, determined every day to improve the lives of young people.
The #91¶¶ÒõInspires series looks at some of the services that make up the 91¶¶Òõ family, and highlights the roles that they play in ensuring that we can provide the best care and education for young people across Scotland.
91¶¶Òõ’s ICT Team
Whether at work or home, technology has changed the way we live our lives. We have come to rely on it for much of what we do, and 91¶¶Òõ is no different.
So how does an organisation like 91¶¶Òõ, with hundreds of young people and staff, use ICT to provide sector-leading care and education?
ICT is critical to much of what 91¶¶Òõ does. As part of our culture of innovation, we have recognised and embraced digital technology from the dawn of the internet age. This means that whether it is for staff tools, educational purposes, communications for young people, or business continuity, the team is ready for anything.
A hugely important part of the job is being approachable. The expert team of six are familiar faces across 91¶¶Òõ’s multiple locations, and if a staff member or young person is unsure about something technical, they can speak to the team and get a fast resolution.
Just as important as the front-facing work with young people and staff is the huge amount that goes on in the background. From installing and maintaining core infrastructure, networks, servers, and backups, there’s a huge amount required to keep 91¶¶Òõ operating and providing the care and education that our young people rely on.
With over 80 years’ worth of expertise in their field, you might think there is nothing new for the team to tackle. But in a world where technology changes daily, a big emphasis is put on continuous professional development ensuring that 91¶¶Òõ can meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
There is no such thing as a typical day. Recently, with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, our ICT team helped put their skills into facilitating our organisational response.
This new way of life for 91¶¶Òõ has included increasing the number of people working remotely, therefore the team stepped up to provide remote and secure access to support home working. In addition, to ensure young people stayed connected with friends and family, where face-to-face visits were restricted, the ICT team ensured that the technology was in place to retain these important connections. Perhaps one of the most momentous moments of achievement in the last few months has been stretching our purpose-built Wi-Fi to broadcast a virtual fashion show exhibiting the work of our young people.
There is no doubt that ICT is an important part of the 91¶¶Òõ family. Our ability as an organisation to make a difference in the lives of young people relies on new and innovative technology. Combined with the other services we provide, we can give young people a chance they deserve in life.