A Blackpool care provider has consulted its service users on how to drive the future direction of social care – leading to their participation in a range of new initiatives.
Blackpool is the latest stop on Carewatch’s year-long mission to offer every one of its over 10,000 service users and 5,000 staff across the UK the chance to feedback how they can improve delivery of care across nearly 60 offices. Service users range from elderly people to those living with physical or cognitive considerations.
Carewatch Blackpool has consulted its clients on how to improve its learning and development programmes. In Blackpool, four service users seized the opportunity to put their views forward and took an enthusiastic approach to positively influencing training and recruitment. Carewatch is currently in the process of implementing their requests.
One client, Drew Blower who is blind and also experiences epileptic seizures, suggested that care workers being trained should consider wearing specialist training glasses so they can experience what it is like to be blind. He would also like to be involved in epilepsy training going forward and would like to join Carewatch Blackpool’s recruitment interview panel.
Meanwhile, another client, Darren Cheng, who lives with spina bifida would like to offer his expertise to develop training for Carewatch’s staff looking specifically at the challenges for those living with his condition. This is currently being developed with the Carewatch training and development function.
Anthony King who is registered blind has appreciated the encouragement he has received from Carewatch with staff helping him to lose nine stone. He has also requested participation in the recruitment interview panel.
Mona Draper moved to Blackpool the day World War II broke out on the 3rd September 1939. At 11-years-old, she was sent by her parents from Leeds to Blackpool. She comments: “We’re having a right good do. I am very happy with my regular carers.” However, Mona expressed a desire to be on the recruitment panel going forward, feeling her “belief in values” will help Carewatch choose the highest calibre of staff.
Jayne Young, Head of Learning and Development at Carewatch, says: “It’s vital that our service users can contribute their views to us and we’ve found hearing about their personal journeys inspirational.
“We are grateful to our service users in Blackpool for their contribution and can’t wait to see the positive impact their insights will have for future care, not only in Blackpool, but across the UK.”
By August 2018, the learning and development team – Jayne Young and Senior Trainer Dawn Haggar – plan to have visited every office in the country.
To find out more about Carewatch, visit: www.carewatch.co.uk for more information.
If you are interested in learning about the career opportunities offered by Carewatch, visit: http://www.carewatch.co.uk/
