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Development guidelines for this website
This website for our EEAS UNISON branch is complex, graphic rich site. It requires constant maintenance to ensure it runs smoothly for the end users (members).
Because of the ever-changing content of the site, updating it can be a lengthy and complex process. To simplify the process, it is requested that branch officials follow these guidelines when they send content through to be updated. The guidelines have been created to ensure that the site looks inherently professional by standardising its look and feel throughout every page.
The site is designed to promote the branches work and forward vital information to our members. To retain interest, avoid information overload, and conserve website space, it may not be possible to add every requested addition to the website. This especially includes information that is not specifically concerned with the Trust.
Additions to the website should be related to events/actions within the Trust or to the UK Ambulance Service as a whole. We should not duplicate material already available on UNISON's national or regional websites.
If your entry relates to something outside the Ambulance Service, please contact Harry Rhodes, UNISON Eastern website manager, by clicking here and make enquires to have your entry placed on the Eastern Region website.
How we make the website
The website is made by committee members emailing articles, pictures or documents to the ICT Officer.
A page is created or an existing one altered, based on a pre-built template to ensure the whole site looks standardised. The committee member’s article is added to the page by generating different fields for the text to sit in.
Graphics are then rendered separately and added to page to give an attractive, professional appearance.
Links are written into the code of the entire site to allow users to reach the new page and the entire modification is tested and then uploaded to the host server.
Best Practice & Complying with the Law
Because the website is a global entity, it means it can be viewed by any person, anywhere in the world. This includes, executives of the Trust and members of the Press. For this reason, all updates to the site MUST be approved by one of the four branch seniors (Kevin Risley, Frank Ward, Barry Jarvis or Jackie Robinson).
All websites have restrictions on what they can and cannot display. In brief, the following restrictions apply to websites within the UK:
Articles displayed on our website must be free from copyright and/or intellectual property ownership. That means we cannot display documents, pictures or writing from other websites or news bulletins without the original authors permission.
We are not permitted to offer any form of medical advice on a website. This restriction covers advice on medicine, drug administration, medical procedures, food and nutritional regimes and exercise advice and exercise equipment.
We are not permitted to offer any form of legal advice on a website. This restriction covers advice on civil and criminal suits, wills, probate and marriage legalities and driving legislation.
We must be mindful of an individuals rights under the Data Protection Act when we mention them by name. The reporting of a person's actions must be accurate, truthful and without assumption or liability.
If we collect information such as email address or other personal details (as this website can), we must both publish and adhere to a Privacy Policy which explains to people what we will do with their details.
Not following these restrictions would make the Branch Secretary liable under various legislation. This is a vitally important issue which has no exceptions.
UNISON's national Communications Department has requested that we do not replicate or duplicate articles that are already on their national website. To do so dilutes the context of the original article.
Making a request
The following explains how to correctly make a request for an addition to the website. Your requests are made via email to dmeads@eeas-unison.com
1. Selecting the topic
There are nine navigation categories (excluding the homepage which is reserved for only high importance announcements) on our website.
When you click on the navigation category, you are moved to the relevant page and can see other posts pertaining to that topic. Most of the articles are in date order - so the posts at the top of the page are the most relevant.
You must decide which of the eight topics your addition to the website will be most suited too. When emailing your request to the administrator, it is important to highlight which navigation category you would like your addition to come under.
2. Structuring Your Addition
To put something on a web page, it must fit with the format of the other posts. You must type your addition out exactly as you wish it to be displayed on the web page. You will also need a title for your addition.
Your addition must be kept short and concise; explaining its relevance to the branches work and the benefit of its members. Exploring the eeas-unison.com website will give you a good idea of how your addition needs to fit into the style of the website.
3. Emailing Your Request
The following email is a suitable example of how to structure a website addition request:
If you wish to have pictures added in your article, you must attach these to the email (any format is acceptable). Documents you wish added or linked to your article will need to be in either Adobe® PDF or Microsoft® Word® formats. Pictures or document being added to the site must be free of intellectual property rights and/or copyrights.
The outcome of the email above will appear on the website like this:
You can email your update by clicking here or sending the email to dmeads@eeas-unison.com. Please remember to copy either Kevin, Jackie, Barry or Frank into the email. A copy of these guidelines can be downloaded by clicking here.
We also have e-news, our new email newsletter available for members to receive for important updates on our work.
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