Connecting carers in lockdown
Another priority through lockdown has been keeping carers connected — to their local community and support networks, and other carers who can give much needed support and advice. Previously work had focused on connecting carers face to face, through a range of popular carer cafes. With this no longer possible, how could we continue to connect carers and prevent the loneliness and isolation carers often feel, seen here, getting worse?
Again, the team started their journey with data. Over the past 6 months the value of data in helping to make decisions has become so much clearer. It’s not that we didn’t use data before, but we’re now trying to make sure we put data front and centre when making decisions, to try and be smart with our resources and deliver the best outcomes for carers.
A range of carers were asked about the benefits of connecting to other carers through the lockdown. Though most were interested in connecting to others, only half were willing to try an online method. As with breaks, there was a high proportion not interested in anything “digital”, wanting to connect via phone. This posed a dilemma. With only enough resource to develop one new service at a time, which direction should be taken? It could have gone either way, but it was decided to first develop a virtual cafe offer, as we had the skills and knowledge to do this. It could be up and running more quickly, then allowing time for other innovations such as a telephony offer. It was a question of using limited resources as wisely as possible.
Next, a consequence scanning exercise was undertaken to inform the development of the project. Key to this was looking at how to ensure positive consequences as well as mitigate potential negative consequences. For example, could a virtual cafe could make a carer feel even more isolated if their voice was drowned out by louder participants? Would carers not confident with technology feel left out? Could we really make sure the space of a cafe enabled carers to feel more connected — was providing a digital space on its own enough?
Consequence scanning enabled the team to see that the role of a cafe ‘facilitator’ was vital. We needed to invest in the staff and volunteers delivering this services. Careful thought was also needed about the cafe platform, to make it as accessible as possible.
To mirror the online breaks programme, Zoom was chosen as our platform (read more here). Additionally, staff and volunteers were given a crash course in ‘facilitation’ through a homemade Youtube guide and written handbook. It was also agreed that 2 ‘facilitators’ were needed for each cafe, to mitigate potential issues such as carers requiring one to one support (for which Zoom break out rooms are vital).
The pilot cafe’s proved a success with all participants wanting to join again and two thirds saying it had already made them feel more connected to others.
X is a great host. It can’t be easy trying to bring strangers together to chat, never mind doing it virtually! Thanks for being there and making it work so well. It was nice to see familiar faces and to know how others are coping.
There are now 5 virtual cafe’s running across the week. As with online breaks, there can be issues with getting people online (see our previous blog). But apart from this, what we’ve learned has been really positive.
- 50% of those attending have never come to a cafe before — the new format is helping to reach new audiences.
- Staff and volunteers are willing to learn new ways of delivering services to support carers, when given the right tools and support.
- Carers want to connect with others, are willing to try new ways of doing so, and have benefited from sharing their experiences with each other.
This last point was most powerfully demonstrated in one cafe when a carer shared that he felt unable to find time for himself. Other carers in ‘the room’ offered suggestions and solutions, and though initially he was reticent, the more the conversation wore on, the more he began to consider how he could take their suggestions on board. Positive peer pressure!
Not willing to stand still, whilst continuing to develop this programme the team are now turning their attention to developing telephone options to expand this offer. Even in challenging circumstances there are ways to innovate to connect carers together — we’d love to hear examples of how others are doing this too!
