Include an email address for contact purposes

Wherever service contact information is included on a web page, a corresponding email address should also be provided.

Since using a website as information resource is an electronic medium the logical progression is to utilise email as a means of service takeup. It simply isn't sufficient to only provide a telephone number for obtaining further information.

24-hour government

The e-Government agenda is about promoting take-up of local services by citizens and making it as easy as possible for them to access council services at a time which suits them. Whilst you may not be up at 2.00am on a Friday morning, a local citizen might be - and why shouldn't they fire off an email to Social Services enquiring about sheltered accommodation for an elderly relative?

Personal email or generic email?

IT Desktop Services can, upon request, set up a generic email address to enable service users to contact your service rather than an individual member of staff. This has several advantages not least of which is that several members of staff can access the generic mailbox to check for, and action, received email. Examples already in use are web.team@salford.gov.uk and social.services@salford.gov.uk.

This page was last updated on 25 January 2012