Month: July 2011

Social work jobs -€“ are they for you?

social work jobs might sound appealing, but it is worth considering whether you really understand what working in this field really means, and the different kinds of roles that are available.  There are a a wide range of specialisms within social services jobs, but the two most important are residential social work and field social work.  The former refers to the care and supervision of a group of people (they might be children, elderly people, the mentally or physically handicapped, or people suffering from alcohol or drug addiction) in a residential home or school.  Those who are involved in field social work deal with care of individuals or groups.  This might be child care, mental welfare, finding foster homes, or advising those adopting children. In general terms, these types of social services jobs are about trying to restore acceptable or improved social conditions for an individual family or community.

Social worker jobs are not suitable for everyone, and there are certain qualities that are required of anybody who is interested in working in this field.  You will need a desire to help the disadvantaged, the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, the ability to establish a rapport with people from many different walks of life, and a willingness to work outside the normal 9-5 day.  It is important to be able to show concern for others’ feelings without becoming emotionally over-involved, otherwise the job will become much more stressful than it should be.

Entry requirements are fairly specific; you will need a degree in social work to become a social worker.  If you are currently studying for a degree in a different subject and you are thinking of this kind of career, you will need to take another undergraduate degree, which usually takes three years.  However, there are some accelerated two-year programmes for those who have studied relevant subjects such as sociology, social policy, psychology and law.  In some cases, graduates can obtain government funding if they want to retrain as social workers. The ‘step-up to social work’ programme was developed to attract high-flyers into the profession.  Graduates with a 2:1 degree and experience working with children or families are paid to study for a Masters degree. The Children’s Workforce and Development Council provide £15,000 for each candidate, and there are up to 200 places on the programme.

There are, therefore, various routes into social work jobs.  Whether you are studying for a degree in social work or have a vague idea that this kind of role might be suitable for you, there should be a path into social services jobs that suits you.  If your skills and abilities meet those that are required of social worker jobs, then it promises to be an extremely fulfilling and enjoyable career.

Please visit http://www.sanctuarypersonnel.com/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.sanctuarypersonnel.com/

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Audio visual conferencing -€“ plenty more than first meets the eye

Video conferencing has come a long way since its first days (as early as the late 1920s and early 1930s, when AT&T was experimenting with the new TV technology that was being developed). Maybe the simplest sort of audio visual conferencing is afforded by a basic Skype camera connection, giving both picture and sound transmission across the world. However, this is quite basic when compared with the sophisticated telepresence video conferencing systems that are now available. These are usually employed by big corporations that need to communicate with staff in other locations – often in foreign countries – and give a better degree of fidelity and reliability than simpler systems.

Whilst individual users might get on ok with an internet camera system and speakers for casual chatting – indeed, these are now often built into even the cheapest devices, such as netbooks – and wealthy corporations may make use of state-of-the-art systems, there are alternatives in between. Midrange video conferencing equipment still affords excellent sound and picture quality, and for a number of parties to use the facility at the same time. One application of these systems is communication by sign language with the deaf or hearing impaired. Then there are the videophones that are beginning to become viable after a bad start a few years ago.

The different options have to be weighed up for your particular requirements, and there are many variables to think about. Obviously, there is the cost of the initial equipment. This can go from almost nothing for point-to-point internet calls to many thousands of pounds for the top cutting-edge telepresence technology. Alongside this, there is the quality of transmission. The reproduction of sound and picture given by a Skype phone and camera might be enough for two people talking informally, but it’s not enough for a multinational corporation organising an important conference between many different team members, perhaps spread over the world. Then there is the bandwidth needed by the different options and, related to this, the cost of use.

So, depending on the nature and requirements of your company or individual needs, you will need to consider many different variables. Telepresence video conferencing is the height of this technology, giving an ‘immersive’ experience between many different users with exceptionally high levels of sound and video quality. On the other hand, simple video conferencing facilities can be gained cheaply with common computer peripherals. Between these extremes there are other kinds of audio visual conferencing equipment at varying costs and degrees of sophistication.

Please visit http://www.edgevision.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.edgevision.co.uk/

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Jobs in Radiography are still worth going for

It is less obvious than ever what implications the government’s reorganisation of the NHS will have on various parts of the health service. To begin with, it looked that the coalition would be doing away with the Primary Care Trusts, or PCTs, and putting local surgeries in control of their own budgets. The principle was that this would allow them to structure their own services. Under the umbrella-policy of Big Society, the reason for this is that localism and decentralisation is felt to be an inherently positive thing. GPs know their patients’ needs – which will vary from area to area – far better than top-down, centralised management. However, at the same time, the coalition stressed the need for savings. Front-line services would be protected, it promised, and the NHS budget would certainly not be cut, but efficiencies were necessary. What this meant for allied health jobs – such as jobs in radiography, speech therapies, counselling, jobs in occupational therapy and the like – wasn’t clear.

Now, whatever clarity there was has disappeared with the ‘listening process’ that has led to dissent among both politicians and health professionals, and far-reaching changes to the original reforms. This essentially means that the Sword of Damocles has not yet fallen, and the date of its falling may have been postponed for a few weeks or months – in other words, the only certainty at this point is uncertainty. This is terrible for people in those positions, since they are prevented from planning their futures. It’s not definite what the situation will be for them, either in the jobs they currently have or the career landscape that will arise at some point over the next year or two, when the reforms (whatever shape they take) are put through.

Those in allied health jobs would be forgiven for searching around for an escape route, and it’s well worth finding what’s out there. Check out one of the specialist job sites that deals with this niche, and hunt out those jobs in radiography or jobs in occupational health that you might need as a safety net. Also bear in mind that different places might deal differently with particular services. For example, in some areas counselling is delivered directly by the Primary Care Trust. In others, it is delivered by the individual GP surgeries. Knowing which is which could be useful if you think you might need to secure a new job at short notice.

Please visit http://www.abouthealthprofessionals.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.abouthealthprofessionals.co.uk/

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Powerpoint presentations can be a valuable tool if used properly

As there are an estimated 30 million corporate powerpoint presentations made every single day around the world, it seems that Powerpoint design is one of the most valuable skills in modern business life.  Unfortunately for those who find it a rather boring old medium, the success of sales presentations if often dependent on the style of a Powerpoint presentation.  Rather than disregarding it as a necessary evil, we all need to learn to get the programme on our side by exploiting it as best we can.

If used well, Powerpoint is one of the most useful tools at our disposal, particularly as the importance of sales presentations is paramount.  A well-structured sales presentation can mean the difference between winning a valuable bit of business, or just missing out.  Those who work in advertising will be under even more pressure to achieve dynamic and engaging presentations.  In a  world that is all about communication, it is impossible to persuade a potential client that you can engage and persuade their customers if your initial presentation is dull and lacklustre.  As a short advert for what you can achieve, the content as well as the delivery needs to be perfectly planned.

Perhaps the most important quality for a presentation is that it needs to deliver data in a clear and concise way.  Some presenters feel that the visual slides give them the opportunity to squeeze in as much information as possible, but the glory of Powerpoint tends to be in its simplicity.  Choosing a maximum of three points or facts for each slide, and one or two well chosen pictures, is plenty for the audience to look at or note down while you talk them through the ideas in more detail.

Indeed, the actual delivery of a presentation can be just as important as skilled use of Powerpoint.  There is no point assuming that your slides will do all the work; in sales presentations the onus is really on the presenter to bring the content to life.  If you often feel anxious about delivering presentations to groups of people, it may be a good idea to practice by yourself or with a colleague – this may feel like an indulgence at the time but if it makes a difference to the effectiveness of your presentation, then it will surely be worth the extra half hour of time investment.
Thinking carefully about Powerpoint design is the best way to make sure powerpoint presentations are on your side, and that you are using them to your advantage.  With a carefully designed and impressively delivered Powerpoint element, your sales presentations will be the best in the business.

Please visit http://www.eyefulpresentations.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Phono preamp is indispensable for playing records on modern equipment

People collect LPs for a number of reasons. Some music lovers believe that it sounds better than modern music storage systems; the digitisation process can result in music feeling too ‘clean’, whereas the analogue method used by LPs is more ‘real’. Others may have a big record collection left over from the era before tapes, CDs and mp3s came along. Either way, if you want to listen to your record collection – and get best sound quality out of it – then you will want some specialist equipment. A phono stage (also known as a phono preamp or a phono amp) is the missing piece that you can use to hook up a turntable to modern stereo equipment. If you’re a music lover, then you will know that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link; you can’t expect to play good music on a bad stereo set and like the result.

This can bring problems if you’ve spent a lot of money on cutting-edge equipment. Mostly, modern stereo sets are designed to play CDs and mp3s, and sometimes tapes. What they are not designed to do is play vinyl. There may be a plug in the back for you to connect your turntable, but that in itself doesn’t result in a good listening experience. The problem is that the signal that comes off a turntable is much lower than the signal that you get from a CD player.

You can get around this by turning the volume up high, but you will swiftly realise that this doesn’t sound good. As well as amplifying the low-level signal of the music, you will also amplify all the hiss and buzz. The result will be your favourite records, spoiled by static. Old amplifiers, intended to be used with turntables, took this into account. Modern stereos do not – and most won’t have a built-in adaptor, since it’s not economically viable. Why bother, when comparatively few people listen to vinyl any more?

The solution is a phono stage – an extra component that goes in between your turntable and stereo amplifier and speakers. This phono amp boosts the signal from the record deck and makes it usable to the stereo – meaning that you don’t get the crackle that occurs when you turn the volume up high. It is therefore crucial for rehabilitating your old LP collection, and if you have a good stereo then it’s worth investing in a decent phono amp, too.

Please visit http://www.whestaudio.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Finding the best London schoolwear supplier for your children

Paying hundreds of pounds for school uniforms can be a particularly frustrating experience for a parent.  It often seems that educational establishments choose their school clothes with insufficient consideration of the potential effects on families who may need to buy many uniforms at a time.  What’s more, when children are growing they may only fit into each uniform for a short period of time, meaning that the poor parent is forced to go back to the expensive London schoolwear supplier every year, often spending hundreds of pounds.  With this in mind, this article aims to provide some suggestions for those who are keen to avoid paying so much for clothes for their children to wear to school.

Too many parents fail to take advantage of the major resource at their disposal when their children start at a new school, namely the hundreds of other students, some of whom are very likely to have recently outgrown the uniform that your child needs.  If you can get to know some other parents before your child starts at the school, you might find that a fellow parent is able to hand over a set of uniform for nothing.  If you have problems finding the right people, it is always worth contacting the school, as they often organise second hand sales at the start of the school year. Finding out about such a sale could save you hundreds of pounds, so it is certainly worth a phone call!

It is often the case that a school specifies a certain school uniform provider, which tends to be on the expensive side.  While it can be impossible to avoid getting the key items from this shop, it is worth looking around to see if there are items that can be purchased from cheaper retailers.  For example, it makes little sense to buy generic shirts or blazers from the shop that sells the skirt your daughter requires from school, as you can get these items extremely cheaply from a supermarket or online.  Such stores sometimes take advantage of having lured you into their shop and charge you inflated prices for bits of uniform that are readily available elsewhere.

School uniforms can be an unavoidable necessity, but a bit of forward planning will help you ensure that your London schoolwear supplier is not charging you more than you should be spending.  With less money going on the school clothes that children usually resent anyway, you can afford to spend more on the things they love in life.

Please visit http://www.uniform4kids.com/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.uniform4kids.com/

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IT support London for your specific business needs

Technology can certainly be complex, and the realisation that most companies are completely dependent on the smooth working of IT systems can be a somewhat disconcerting one, especially for businesses whose main function has very little to do with IT.  Looking for computer support London, therefore, brings its own complex challenges.  Trying to compare one it support London company to another can be a highly confusing business, so it is worth trying to make sure you know what your needs are and then assessing all the important features of each of the companies you are considering.

The key consideration for anyone looking for IT support London is often the price.  Some technology companies charge a monthly subscription for all your network management, whereas others will charge subscribers by the hour when they are called out.  Which type of rate you go for should generally be judged by the amount of computer support you are likely to require, which is usually dependent on the size of your company as well as the the complexity of your IT systems.

It is all very well paying a competitive rate, but what you really want is the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your IT support company offers quick and guaranteed response times.  Staff being paid to stare at blank, unresponsive computer screens is likely to be a more serious waste of money than paying a really decent IT company who will get to you when you need them.  For this reason, it is often best to find a company that is as close as possible to your office.

Some IT support companies use computer operated telephone answering systems, voicemail, or mobile phones, and this can be a source of major irritation when all you want to do is speak to an experienced human about your technical problems.  It is, therefore, often worth making sure your company will guarantee that your call will be answered by a real live expert before you sign up.  In addition, many technical support companies are designed to work with companies of a certain size, so if you are a small company, for example, it may be worth finding experts who are accustomed to working with similar businesses, as they are more likely to be tuned into your needs.

From money back guarantees to discounted joining fees, it support London companies may offer you a range of reasons to sign up with them.  Your main priority when choosing computer support London, however, should be finding the most efficient company that is best suited to your business needs and most likely to respond speedily and effectively when something goes wrong.

Please visit http://www.fwcs.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.fwcs.co.uk/

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Commercial property London offers excellent potential

For commercial property london is one of the most promising places in the world to be hunting. The market fell badly during the financial crisis, with values for some of the most high profile buildings such as office space being sliced in half. Rents fell, though not as far. As a result, yields were considered very good and when the bounce occurred investors piled in to take advantage of the bargains on offer. The comparatively weak pound meant that foreign money swept in from Europe and the Middle East, since these currencies could buy more. Commercial property comes in a number of forms (offices, industrial, retail), and specific agents may deal with some or all aspects of it. Those offering small shops to let in North London may or may not be able to secure a good rent on several thousand square feet of grade A office space – since the type of outfit looking for a shop for sale in London or somewhere to rent is likely to be different from a big corporation looking to relocate its headquarters.

At the same time, depending on the nature of your business, there can be great benefits in going to an agency that deals with a general cross-section of the property market, since many companies will need more than one sub-sector. If you’re after several shops to rent in North London, there’s a good chance you’ll need warehouses to keep your stock in and office space to administrate your business. It’s quicker and cheaper to find all of these through the same agency than it is to look around and pick them up piecemeal.

London is a strong prospect for commercial property at the moment – a growth area that led the country’s uptick in the sector. The rebound from recession has not been as confident as hoped, but the capital has tended to do better than other cities, partly due to the low number of new developments, meaning a bottleneck in coming years and ratcheting up prices through the simple law of supply and demand. If you’re looking for a shop for sale in London or other sorts of commercial property london is still promising in terms of the potential for return. However, regardless of whether you are looking for industrial property on the outskirts or shops to let in North London, hecking you have the right agent can make a big difference in the cost and suitability of the space you let or buy.

Please visit http://www.claridges-commercial.co.uk for further information about this topic.

http://www.claridges-commercial.co.uk

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