{"id":39923,"date":"2016-06-14T14:46:28","date_gmt":"2016-06-14T18:46:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/blog\/how-to-use-text-messaging-to-recruit-more-foster-carers\/"},"modified":"2024-02-22T10:09:12","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T15:09:12","slug":"how-to-use-text-messaging-to-recruit-more-foster-carers","status":"publish","type":"blog_posts","link":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/blog\/how-to-use-text-messaging-to-recruit-more-foster-carers\/","title":{"rendered":"How to use text messaging to recruit more foster 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Marketing"}}]}},"acf":{"page_type":"internal","external_url":"","page_template":"centered","sidebar_position":"right","post_author":"","post_date":"","post_description":"","post_link":"","post_file":false,"media_gallery":false,"project_metrics_title":"","project_metrics":false,"show_hero":false,"hero_margin":false,"hero_type":"image","hero_subhead":"","hero_headline":"","hero_text":"","hero_button":"","hero_icon":false,"hero_image":false,"sidebar_type":"sticky","content_builder_sidebar_group":{"content_builder_sidebar":false},"flexible_page_builder_group":{"flexible_page_builder_fields":[{"acf_fc_layout":"wysiwyg","add_menu_anchor":false,"anchor_menu_text":"","wysiwyg_group":{"show_section":true,"alignment":"left","subhead":"","headline":"","wysiwyg":"<p>For local councils with a remit to recruit foster carers, text messaging could be\u00a0a valuable\u00a0addition to their communications toolkit. Where ad campaigns, websites and social media fall short, text\u00a0messaging comes into its own as a powerful engagement tool.<\/p>\n<p>Given the growing need to recruit more foster carers in-house and reduce the need to outsource the provision of care to\u00a0fostering agencies, councils must find ways to increase the number of high quality foster carer applications they receive. SMS could be an effective way to engage and recruit the right people sooner.<\/p>\n<p>Using text messaging as part of the &#8220;vetting&#8221; process would mean councils receive\u00a0the feedback they need to refine and focus\u00a0their recruitment campaign activities. This would give them the insight they need to be able to better target their\u00a0campaigns,\u00a0reducing service inefficiencies.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The power of text messaging and how it can help\u00a0engage\u00a0more people:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>93% of British adults own a mobile phone<\/li>\n<li>38% of mobile users don\u2019t have a smartphone with access to the internet (but they can receive SMS!)<\/li>\n<li>97% of texts are read within 15 minutes<\/li>\n<li>On average people respond to a text within 90 seconds<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>4 ways your council\u00a0could use SMS to recruit carers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>1. Survey your audience \u2014 recruit the right people sooner<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-18689\" src=\"https:\/\/uk.granicus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image\/png\/Target-the-right-people-NEW.png\" alt=\"Vet people sooner\" width=\"186\" height=\"359\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Start the vetting process by text before using valuable staff time and resources. This will help ensure you receive higher quality applications from people who are eligible, making your recruitment process more efficient.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>2)\u00a0Notify and remind your audience \u2014 increase attendance at events<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-18682\" src=\"https:\/\/uk.granicus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image\/png\/Attendance-NEW.png\" alt=\"Increase attendance\" width=\"194\" height=\"375\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Increase attendance at your recruitment events and engage more potential foster carers. Gauge someone\u2019s level of interest, assess their understanding of the application process, and educate and convert them sooner.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>3. Nurture and convert potential foster carers \u2014 get the right messages to them<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-18688\" src=\"https:\/\/uk.granicus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image\/png\/Educate-NEW.png\" alt=\"Educate people and myth-bust\" width=\"189\" height=\"366\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Use SMS to educate potential carers on what it really means to be a carer. Use text messaging as a way to myth-bust on the topic, drip feed messages, and ultimately convert enquiries into high quality applications.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-18690\" src=\"https:\/\/uk.granicus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image\/png\/Fostering-billboard-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"258\" height=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>*Please note this is an illustrative example only<\/em><\/p>\n<p>We see many councils investing in billboard advertising at strategic points in a city \/ town &#8211; e.g. in a shopping centre, at a bus stop, or another high-traffic area. People are more likely to act if they&#8217;re able to take action in a way they feel comfortable &#8211; e.g. on the device \/ platform of their choice. Diversifying the mode of contact could help generate more enquiries from potential carers.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re interested in how Granicus&#8217;\u00a0Interactive Text Messaging could support your council&#8217;s foster carer recruitment efforts please <a href=\"https:\/\/uk.granicus.com\/contact-us\/\">get in touch<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For more ideas about ways to use\u00a0text messaging\u00a0please check out our \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/uk.granicus.com\/downloads\/8-awesome-text-message-examples-in-the-public-sector\/\">8 Terrific Text Messages<\/a>\u201d guide to text messaging in the public sector.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","button":""}}]},"posts_slider_group":{"show_section":true,"posts_slider":[{"add_anchor":false,"anchor_name":"","background_color":"green","slider_subhead":"","slider_headline":"Discover More Blogs","slider_text":"","slider_type":"blog_posts","manual_resources":false,"slider_resource_tax":"recent","add_additional_filters":false,"department_filter":false,"market_filter":false,"outcome_filter":false,"product_filter":false,"region_filter":false,"solution_filter":false,"topic_filter":false,"slider_link":{"title":"View All Resources","url":"\/uk\/learning-center\/","target":""},"slider_link_icon":false}]},"centered_layout_builder_clone":{"flexible_page_builder_group":{"flexible_page_builder_fields":[{"acf_fc_layout":"wysiwyg","add_menu_anchor":false,"anchor_menu_text":"","wysiwyg_group":{"show_section":true,"alignment":"left","subhead":"","headline":"","wysiwyg":"<p>For local councils with a remit to recruit foster carers, text messaging could be\u00a0a valuable\u00a0addition to their communications toolkit. Where ad campaigns, websites and social media fall short, text\u00a0messaging comes into its own as a powerful engagement tool.<\/p>\n<p>Given the growing need to recruit more foster carers in-house and reduce the need to outsource the provision of care to\u00a0fostering agencies, councils must find ways to increase the number of high quality foster carer applications they receive. SMS could be an effective way to engage and recruit the right people sooner.<\/p>\n<p>Using text messaging as part of the &#8220;vetting&#8221; process would mean councils receive\u00a0the feedback they need to refine and focus\u00a0their recruitment campaign activities. This would give them the insight they need to be able to better target their\u00a0campaigns,\u00a0reducing service inefficiencies.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The power of text messaging and how it can help\u00a0engage\u00a0more people:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>93% of British adults own a mobile phone<\/li>\n<li>38% of mobile users don\u2019t have a smartphone with access to the internet (but they can receive SMS!)<\/li>\n<li>97% of texts are read within 15 minutes<\/li>\n<li>On average people respond to a text within 90 seconds<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>4 ways your council\u00a0could use SMS to recruit carers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>1. Survey your audience \u2014 recruit the right people sooner<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-18689\" src=\"https:\/\/uk.granicus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image\/png\/Target-the-right-people-NEW.png\" alt=\"Vet people sooner\" width=\"186\" height=\"359\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Start the vetting process by text before using valuable staff time and resources. This will help ensure you receive higher quality applications from people who are eligible, making your recruitment process more efficient.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>2)\u00a0Notify and remind your audience \u2014 increase attendance at events<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-18682\" src=\"https:\/\/uk.granicus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image\/png\/Attendance-NEW.png\" alt=\"Increase attendance\" width=\"194\" height=\"375\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Increase attendance at your recruitment events and engage more potential foster carers. Gauge someone\u2019s level of interest, assess their understanding of the application process, and educate and convert them sooner.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>3. Nurture and convert potential foster carers \u2014 get the right messages to them<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-18688\" src=\"https:\/\/uk.granicus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image\/png\/Educate-NEW.png\" alt=\"Educate people and myth-bust\" width=\"189\" height=\"366\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Use SMS to educate potential carers on what it really means to be a carer. Use text messaging as a way to myth-bust on the topic, drip feed messages, and ultimately convert enquiries into high quality applications.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-18690\" src=\"https:\/\/uk.granicus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image\/png\/Fostering-billboard-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"258\" height=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>*Please note this is an illustrative example only<\/em><\/p>\n<p>We see many councils investing in billboard advertising at strategic points in a city \/ town &#8211; e.g. in a shopping centre, at a bus stop, or another high-traffic area. People are more likely to act if they&#8217;re able to take action in a way they feel comfortable &#8211; e.g. on the device \/ platform of their choice. Diversifying the mode of contact could help generate more enquiries from potential carers.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re interested in how Granicus&#8217;\u00a0Interactive Text Messaging could support your council&#8217;s foster carer recruitment efforts please <a href=\"https:\/\/uk.granicus.com\/contact-us\/\">get in touch<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For more ideas about ways to use\u00a0text messaging\u00a0please check out our \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/uk.granicus.com\/downloads\/8-awesome-text-message-examples-in-the-public-sector\/\">8 Terrific Text Messages<\/a>\u201d guide to text messaging in the public sector.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","button":""}}]}},"post_slider_clone":{"posts_slider_group":{"show_section":true,"posts_slider":[{"add_anchor":false,"anchor_name":"","background_color":"green","slider_subhead":"","slider_headline":"Discover More Blogs","slider_text":"","slider_type":"blog_posts","manual_resources":false,"slider_resource_tax":"recent","add_additional_filters":false,"department_filter":false,"market_filter":false,"outcome_filter":false,"product_filter":false,"region_filter":false,"solution_filter":false,"topic_filter":false,"slider_link":{"title":"View All Resources","url":"\/uk\/learning-center\/","target":""},"slider_link_icon":false}]}},"call_to_action":{"hide_call_to_action":false,"color":"red","custom_cta":false,"custom_subhead":"","custom_headline":"","custom_description":"","custom_link":null,"custom_image":false}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog_posts\/39923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog_posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog_posts"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39924"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_market","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_market?post=39923"},{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_dept","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_dept?post=39923"},{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_type?post=39923"},{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_region?post=39923"},{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_outcomes","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_outcomes?post=39923"},{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_topic?post=39923"},{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_products","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_products?post=39923"},{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_solutions","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_solutions?post=39923"},{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_services","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_services?post=39923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}