The Devon Digital Carers Project, run by Health & Care Videos and Devon County Council, will offer support, training and effective signposting to over 84,000 carers in Devon.
Health & Care Videos has been given funding to deploy a new Devon Digital Carers Project across Devon. This builds on the success of the Torbay Community Carer’s Project run last year in conjunction with Torbay Council and the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.
This venture is part of the ‘Innovation in Healthy Ageing Programme’, funded by the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. It will enable thousands of carers across Devon to access new online resources, videos and support through already established local, regional and national organisations.
The main component of this project is setting up a carer-specific video library on 60 voluntary organisation websites. This video library has been designed with carers in mind, looking at over 70 key areas that might affect them and their loved ones, including:
- Falls prevention
- How to spot urinary tract infections
- Self-care and mental health support
- Stopping smoking
- Managing diabetes
The video library also includes active signposting to local resources for carers, as well as national bodies that can offer much-needed support. Each organisation will have personalised versions of this library attached to their website for free, as well as an app version to make it much more accessible for carers on the move.
“The Innovation in Healthy Ageing programme is proud to be part of this digital initiative that’s supporting carers across the region. The video library is an easily accessible and engaging resource. It also standardises the information carers are getting and places it all in a centralised location. We can’t wait to see how the different organisations use the library and the positive impact it will have for local carers.” Debra Steele, Innovation in Healthy Ageing Programme Manager.
Through the Devon Digital Carers project, local carers will also have access to the ‘Take 20′ course, an online quiz based on the City and Guilds accredited Care Certificate Course and designed to improve carer’s confidence and prepare them more effectively for their role.
20 VCSEs across Devon have already registered their interest in the project, taking one of the 60 libraries available.
“I would highly recommend that other organisations across the county do look at taking this on board. It is a gift and there is tremendous opportunity for you to think outside your service parameters and think about who else, other than your patients or your service users, might access those videos beyond your scope of your work.” Kerry Macnish, Head of Education, Rowcroft Hospice
Other interested organisations are asked to contact [email protected] to discuss setting up their free library.
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