My Background and Experience

Since April 2003 I have worked as a freelance web developer, projects have included;

Utilising current and new technology to devise efficient ways to distribute information to a number of client’s customer base.
This involved the use of RSS feeds to allow visitors to subscribe to a websites feed/s and receive an automatic update when new entries where made.
This use of push/pull technology has proved a positive success in bringing customers back to websites, when normally they would only visit occasionally.
The use of Blogs by staff members has also been viewed a success in encouraging people to visit sites on a regular bases, rather then as and when they remember, or have the need to purchase or view details.
I also investigated the expanding possibilities that mp3 and video players such as Apple’s iPod provided in the provision of information, in both media’s.
Taking the possibilities which RSS feeds provide and including documents, such as PDF’s or even movie’s on aspects relating to the website, has seen a growth in returning visitors and those request further details.
As a means to provide information in a wide variety of formats which not only makes digesting what can be complex details for anyone, the ability to provide visual content has helped in providing information to the visually impaired, blind and those with learning difficulties.

Developing Databases and providing ASP coding to websites (including Content management systems and E-Commerce) designed by New Media Choice, a design company based in Northern Lincolnshire.

Training Rotherham PCT staff, as well as development work, to producing dynamic content for their web site and intranet to meet the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, and produce an in-house content system to allow non-technical staff to add and update information held on the organisations website and intranet.

Training web staff at Rotherham College in technologies to enable them to move their web site and intranet over to database driven systems, to deliver requirements for the Freedom of Information Act, including online Course guides and Course material for their students.

Providing Accessibility training and development work for Doncaster Metropolitan Council, along with assistance in moving their web sites to CSS designs.

I have worked on 3 projects for North and North East Lincolnshire Primary Care Trusts.
The first was to produce a Web Referral system for Primary Care into Hospitals in the two counties. The second for a Substance abuse records system, once again web based, which is contributed to from Primary care, and fed to the National level and the third, a Repeat prescription system being currently used in North East Lincolnshire to enable patients to store and order their repeat prescriptions directly to their practice, 24/7. This system is currently being rolled out in North Lincolnshire.

I have continued during my freelance work to promote and train web developers in producing website and web based systems which provide accessibility for all levels of users, whether in the form of usability or producing system that ensure people with disabilities have complete access.

Prior to this I spent 4 years, working within the Public sector, worked on numerous web projects, ranging from simply voluntary organisation website, through Primary Care Trust websites to fully dynamic Web applications such as Booking and Referral systems for the NHS in Doncaster and a Referral system for Doncaster Social Services.

My posting within the Doncaster & South Humber Healthcare NHS Trust, as the Web Development Manager saw me working not only on the websites, but also from conception to delivery.
This involved meeting with clients, exploring their needs, and translating these into practical solution.
I have always worked closely with clients, preferring a hands-on approach, always looking for their feedback during the progress of each project.

During this post I worked closely with the various departments within the Trust to development both the Trust website and Extranet. This involved developing systems to allow members of each department to provide information to both sites, allowing them to feel an ownership of their own section, and thus were more likely to contribute and ensure the information was kept up to date.

I developed within this posting a commercial service to other NHS organisations within Doncaster, which resulted in the development of 90% of all NHS sites in Doncaster, both Internal and External, and at the time of my leaving, a projected annual income of £100,000.

This almost unique service enabled me to work with the local Communication teams to provide a corporate look and feel to the web sites within Doncaster. I feel it is important when so much of the NHS is fragmented and for the public difficult to understand, the last thing they need to do is be further confused when looking for information about their local health service and moved into different looking sites, which they have to learn how to use each time, better a corporate feel that allows the visit to move between sites, but still within a similar look and feel.

I have always believed that web technologies provide opportunities to promote improved communication methods.
To this end I have developed Extranets for Primary Care Trusts that enable them to store documents such as Policies, Newsletters etc in a central reservoir, where all employees have the opportunity to view them, without the need to either post or email so many copies.

The core idea behind these projects has always been to promote a sharing of information, collecting knowledge in one place for all to share, which benefits not only the staff of the organisations, but the public they provide a service to.

This approach has also been used to address the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, with systems being put into place following my recommendations to utilise the Extranets and Websites for the provision of data to the public.

My work for the NHS has involved working closely with Data Protection and other legislation that effects not only the daily provision of information via the numerous websites, but also producing sites and system to ensure that the organisations where able to comply with all requirements of them.

I have, whilst working for the NHS, worked along side many other organisations to promote and produce Information Technology and the Web based systems.
These have included Electronic Health Records, a collaborative between Doncaster & South Humber Healthcare NHS Trust, Doncaster Health and Doncaster Social Services providing patient information in a single web based system. This system is now part of the NHS strategy for whole country.

I have also developed systems for the local NHS and Social Services, which have included Referral and Booking systems between Health and Health and Health and Social services and Prescription services, which have been widely demonstrated within Yorkshire, and have been viewed as solutions for other organisations around the country.

I have always taken a deep interest in web technologies and their uses for the provision of information and services to the general populous.
This has involved working with Doncaster Council, on a wide range of projects.
This has involved development work on the web site to produce a more accessible version and ongoing advice and training in this area.
Membership within the working groups developing the Council website and Intranet and groups such as those exploring the use of Kiosks to provide information and service to the people of Doncaster.