Drop-in skills session for Torbay’s Carers
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 Project 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.
The Torbay Community Carers Project started with an event in February attended by carers and members from over 10 local voluntary organisations. Discussions with the community highlighted the need for 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 and 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 – ensuring that organisations are meeting the requirements of the Care Quality Commission and that care workers are providing high-quality and compassionate care – involves a set of learning modules covering the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of specific job roles in the health and social care sectors.
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 at their own pace.
Torbay Council are making this resource freely available to all unpaid carers in Torbay and it can be accessed through any of the existing online libraries.
Drop-in Days
There are three upcoming opportunities to meet Daisy Whitney, Project Manager from Health and Care Videos, and to find out more about the Project’s free online learning resources, as well as learning how to complete the certificate in your own time:
- Monday 4th June – Torbay Hospital Advice Point
- Monday 11th June – Healthwatch and Torbay Carers’ Office (in Paignton Library)
- Friday 15th June – Paignton Library Foyer
What else is on offer?
Monday 11th June will also provide carers with the chance to benefit from the ongoing digital support of Healthwatch Torbay as well as practical employment support and advice from Torbay Carers’ 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, please do come along.
For more information visit the project website www.healthandcarevideos.com/torbay-community-project or call 01626 833937.
Bob Jope Healthwatch Torbay
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