Torbay Council’s Community Carers Project, which currently offers the region’s 16,000 unpaid carers access to a vast range of online health and support information, enters its next stage, with the launch of a free online learning resource.
To mark the start of Carer's Week 2018 (11-17 June), the Torbay Community Carers Project, headed by Torbay Council, has teamed up with Healthwatch Torbay and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust's Torbay Carers Service, to offer three drop-in events to showcase the online learning resources available to carers in the area.
Carers and Volunteers Lead at the Trust, Katy Heard said: “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.”
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.
Over 20 online video libraries have now been set up and connected to local charity websites, providing 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.
New learning opportunities for carers
Torbay & South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, alongside their partnership organisation Health and Care Videos, have created a digital, video based version of the Care Certificate that has also received accreditation from City & Guilds. 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 or standards that cover the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of specific job roles in the health and social care sectors. It includes topics such as safeguarding, manual handling and awareness of mental health, dementia and learning disabilities.
To support Torbay Community Carers Project and in line with the Proud to Care initiative, a less formal 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 Council’s Executive Lead for Adults and Children, Councillor Julien Parrott, said: “Torbay Council is making this resource freely available to all unpaid carers in Torbay and it can be accessed through any of the existing online libraries. I would encourage everyone to get involved and take full advantage of such an exciting opportunity.”
Torbay carer Madeleine Dray, said: “After completing a few modules of the Care Cert Lite test version 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.”
Come and find out more at our Drop-in Days
There are two further opportunities to meet Daisy Whitney, Project Manager from Health and Care Videos. They will both offer a chance to find out more about the Torbay Community Carers Project, browse the carers video library and discover the free online learning resources available, as well as learn how to successfully complete the certificate in your own time.
- Monday 11 June - Healthwatch and Torbay Carers Office (in Paignton Library)
- Friday 15 June - Paignton Library Foyer
What else is on offer?
Monday 11th June will also provide carers with the opportunity to benefit from the ongoing digital support of Healthwatch Torbay and practical employment support and advice from Torbay Carer’s service - not forgetting plenty of free tea and coffee!
If you would like to build on your skills as a carer, or learn more about the Torbay Community Carers Project and how it’s helping improve resources and access to advice and information, please do come along.
For more information visit the project website www.healthandcarevideos.com/torbay-community-project or call 01626 833937.
News archive
- October 2024 (7)
- September 2024 (17)
- August 2024 (7)
- July 2024 (24)
- June 2024 (8)
- May 2024 (25)
- April 2024 (19)
- March 2024 (17)
- February 2024 (16)
- January 2024 (14)
- December 2023 (14)
- November 2023 (30)
- October 2023 (21)
- September 2023 (22)
- August 2023 (18)
- July 2023 (17)
- June 2023 (14)
- May 2023 (11)
- April 2023 (9)
- March 2023 (36)
- February 2023 (22)
- January 2023 (26)
- December 2022 (18)
- November 2022 (24)
- October 2022 (18)
- September 2022 (13)
- August 2022 (15)
- July 2022 (22)
- June 2022 (14)
- May 2022 (35)
- April 2022 (23)
- March 2022 (32)
- February 2022 (18)
- January 2022 (14)
- December 2021 (22)
- November 2021 (22)
- October 2021 (25)
- September 2021 (23)
- August 2021 (18)
- July 2021 (26)
- June 2021 (24)
- May 2021 (21)
- April 2021 (21)
- March 2021 (33)
- February 2021 (30)
- January 2021 (27)
- December 2020 (24)
- November 2020 (37)
- October 2020 (29)
- September 2020 (27)
- August 2020 (22)
- July 2020 (37)
- June 2020 (38)
- May 2020 (39)
- April 2020 (36)
- March 2020 (22)
- February 2020 (10)
- January 2020 (18)
- December 2019 (7)
- November 2019 (11)
- October 2019 (15)
- September 2019 (16)
- August 2019 (8)
- July 2019 (9)
- June 2019 (7)
- May 2019 (16)
- April 2019 (11)
- March 2019 (11)
- February 2019 (7)
- January 2019 (11)
- December 2018 (11)
- November 2018 (14)
- October 2018 (14)
- September 2018 (9)
- August 2018 (7)
- July 2018 (19)
- June 2018 (21)
- May 2018 (7)
- April 2018 (10)
- March 2018 (35)
- February 2018 (9)
- January 2018 (15)
- December 2017 (9)
- November 2017 (17)
- October 2017 (11)
- September 2017 (6)
- August 2017 (7)
- July 2017 (13)
- June 2017 (22)
- May 2017 (16)
- April 2017 (8)
- March 2017 (9)
- February 2017 (9)
- January 2017 (4)
- December 2016 (10)
- November 2016 (11)
- October 2016 (14)
- September 2016 (9)
- August 2016 (10)
- July 2016 (11)
- June 2016 (4)
- May 2016 (20)
- April 2016 (14)
- March 2016 (18)
- February 2016 (8)
- January 2016 (15)
- December 2015 (13)
- November 2015 (19)
- October 2015 (17)
- September 2015 (8)
- August 2015 (6)
- July 2015 (19)
- June 2015 (11)
- May 2015 (20)
- April 2015 (14)
- March 2015 (15)
- February 2015 (13)
- January 2015 (17)
- December 2014 (17)
- November 2014 (18)
- October 2014 (14)
- September 2014 (17)
- August 2014 (16)
- July 2014 (10)
- June 2014 (8)
- May 2014 (1)
- February 2014 (1)
- January 0001 (1)