Getting Involved
The "Getting Involved" Project
‘Getting Involved’ is a project that involves users of services and carers in social care learning, training and development. The project is commissioned by the Learning Resource Network (LRN) as part of Skills for Care. Sally Crowe was responsible for managing the project, training delivery, and reporting, leading a reference group in the design and delivery of the programme. Marketing the workshop programme
A relationship marketing approach was used, by using a contact base of advocates to cascade information throughout their networks. This began by distributing a mailshot flyer to approximately 200 direct contacts of Crowe Associates and the LRN, which had been established through earlier phases of this project and other related social care projects. These individuals were then encouraged to forward the communication to members of their networks who would benefit from the training.
This marketing was shown to be effective, as it generated a fairly even mix of workshop participants: between those who had been involved in previous stages of the project, and those who were new to Getting Involved, having heard about the project through receipt of the mailshot.
Programme Preparation and Pilot
This included the organisation and preparation of a range of venues, chosen to maximise participation and ease of access with participants receiving detailed induction information in advance.
The programme itself was piloted with a reference group in advance, and improvements made as a result. They used a ‘role in – role out’ theme whereby participants would experience the exercises (and all the emotions that accompany them) and then consider them from a training/facilitating perspective. A ‘training programme’ was used by the team: this detailed all of the learning activity and resources required at any given time, and ensured that the team knew who was doing what, and when.
Workshop Programme
The workshop was divided into three sections that addressed involvement from different but complimentary perspectives. The event began with introductions, a warm up exercise, and an explanation of the concept of ‘role in and role out’. Participants then used a creative thinking exercise to communicate their experiences of enablers and barriers to involvement. These issues were discussed and developed using exercises which covered the emotional issues of involvement, practical issues, and organisational issues.
Delivery of workshop programme
As well as contributing to the development of the workshop programme, it was always envisaged that members of the reference group would be part of the training team. The group had decided early on that this project needed to ‘walk the talk’ of involvement, so group members were asked about their potential areas of contribution and skills that would support this. A ratio of 3 service users and carers to 2 project workers: some took active parts in the delivery programme, running exercises and taking feedback. Others undertook testimonials or discussion on using videos.
All had active roles in the small group exercises, which generated outputs like the picture on the right of what the participants thought the experience of a drug addict was like.
The feedback was very positive about the role of the reference group members in the workshops and the group developed an ‘Esprit de Corps’, forming an effective and supportive training team.
Evaluation
Attendees had been asked to evaluate their experiences of service user involvement in preparation for the workshops, through a ‘thinking piece’ to collect their thoughts. These initial thoughts were made explicit through a creative thinking exercise which effectively set the agenda for the day. At the end of the day, the success of the day was evaluated, both in considering the extent to which the needs of everyone had been met, as well as a scoring of the day, with the majority of ratings being set to 5 or 6 out of a maximum of 6.
Here are some of the comments from participants;
After the programme...
After the programme, all reference group members undertook related but additional activity on involvement issues. Examples include speaking at an NVQ Assessment Conference, speaking at a national Skills for Care conference, training sessions with care providers and staff, working with psychiatrists and mental health staff.
