Community project to give unpaid carers free access to online learning resources
Health and Care Videos were approached by Torbay Council to run The Torbay Community Carers Project, and provide the region’s estimated 16,000 unpaid carers, with free access to a specially created informal carers learning hub.
About the project
The Torbay Community Carers Project, initially started with a focus group event in February, attended by carers and members from over 10 local voluntary organisations. Discussions with the community highlighted that there was a strong requirement to have improved access to existing resources, as well as the creation of new ones.
Carers and Volunteers Lead at Torbay & South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Katy Heard says,”We want to make sure that we are providing the carers in Torbay with the tools they need and want, to help make life a little easier with an opportunity to progress, and actually use their experience.”
New learning resource
This new online resource has been built for carers who would like to recognise and develop their existing skills, to improve confidence, or help achieve employment goals.
It contains a range of videos, quizzes and helpful links to national resources that will support those in a caring role, be it for an elderly neighbour, family member, or a child with additional needs. It also utilities Health and Care Videos City & Guilds accredited video version of the Care Certificate.
The Care Certificate ensures organisations are meeting the requirements of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and that care workers are providing high-quality and compassionate care. Their staff induction process includes completion, or referenced learning to the Care Certificate. This is a set of learning modules that cover topics such as safeguarding, manual handling and awareness of mental health, dementia and learning disabilities.
To support the Torbay Community Carers Project, and in line with the Proud to Care initiative, a condensed version of the Care Certificate has been developed, the Care Cert Lite, that offers carers the chance to undertake further learning online and at their own pace.
Torbay carer Madeleine Dray, says ‘After completing a few modules of the Care Cert Lite I was surprised to realise how much I knew already. It really improved my self-confidence, making me feel that despite doubting my abilities, I’m actually doing a good job and could use my skills to get paid work in the future if I wanted to.’
This compliments the carers health information video library, that is now in use by over 20 local organisations, connected to 
their existing websites, to provide a central place for information resources to be accessed, including over 200 health information videos, and links to national charities, advice networks and local support groups.
‘We’re all really pleased to be offering unpaid carers a new resource to help them feel supported. It’s great to give something back to those who give so much, and this is something that can be emulated up and down the country.’ Says Daisy Whitney, Project Manager at Health and Care Videos
If you would like to offer your locality the same level of support and resources, email [email protected] for more information.
