Background
VOCAL has been offering free carer training for ten years and in 2002 employed a full time training officer, allowing for the expansion and development of the Expert Caring Programme. Involving partners to ensure that carers needs are met, the Expert Caring Programme aims to respond to carers requests, legislation and policy changes as well as offering an opportunity to explore some of the emotional issues of caring.
We run a rolling programme of courses and seminars, varying in structure to accompany carers through their caring journey. Depending on their needs, it is possible for carers to progress through the tiers of the training programme or to join at any stage.
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Background
Course Structures
Monitoring and Evaluation
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Course Structures
The Information Day
This is a generic one day event open to all carers who are at the beginning of their caring journey. Highlighting rights, entitlements and key people, the day introduces carers to five main areas: support available locally and through VOCAL, welfare benefits and money matters, support from the Local Authority, support from the NHS and communication.
For more details download an Information Day leaflet
The 4 - 8 week courses
Pursuing some of the issues raised in the information day as well as adding new dimensions, the longer courses offer in-depth information to carers who are progressing in their caring journey. They tend to be less generic in nature and are carer group or condition specific.
Condition specific information is offered on these courses allowing the carer to care more effectively and to feel more confident. For example, input from specialist pharmacists outlining pharmaceutical treatments, side effects and good practice for storage and administration or dietians offering advice about how to manage weight gain in children with special needs.
Services and organisations are introduced on the courses, exploring how they can be accessed, funded and what they can offer. For example, Children and Families Social Workers detail local respite services, Accessible Housing Team explain the range of assistive technology available.
Cares on the courses also have the opportunity to examine the emotional impact of a caring role, exploring communication, being an advocate for the person you care for, changing relationships and guilt. These courses also include sessions on how carers can look after themselves.
Some examples of course leaflets are available to download:
The Seminar Programme
This is a series of stand alone seminars on issues that may be of interest to all carers and specifically to those caring for a number of years or involved in intensive caring situations. Examples of seminar topics include direct payments, continence management, manual handling, wills and trusts.
Example of a seminar leaflet to download:
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Monitoring and Evaluation
All courses are comprehensively evaluated through a process of pre course, session and post course questionnaires and interviews. This gives a clear picture of the highly tangible impact of the Expert Caring Programme on the lives of carers, the people they care for and their wider family/social circle.
An additional benefit of this evaluation process is the significant reduction in drop out rates, as the pre course questionnaire encourages ownership of the courses. It also enables carers to explain their situation and/or ask the speakers questions, raise areas of concern or highlight what they would particularly like to hear about. As a result individual sessions are even more tailored to the needs of carers.
The post course telephone interview or questionnaire ensures that all outstanding queries or questions are addressed.
Some examples of evaluation reports to download:
Further information on the current training programme can be found in the training section of this website. Alternatively you can contact Jane Greenacre, Training Officer, at VOCAL on 0131 622 6666 or email jane@vocal.carers.net |
