New Types of Worker - Self Care Pilot - Community Matrons teams
Self Care Pilot - Community Matrons teams
Context/Background
S of Tyne and Wear Health Authority had been involved in the production of the seven Common Core Principles to Support Self Care which was launched in 2008. These were designed to help health and social care staff support people to live independently, stay healthy, and make the most of their lives by managing their conditions.
A group of community matrons and teaching staff from the authority were chosen to produce and design a teaching resource in self care, for health staff, focusing particularly on community matrons teams.
The group wished the resource to stand in its own right after the pilot was completed, and so decided to produce an e learning course.
The Aims and Objectives of the Activity
The aim was to make a course which would be user friendly, simple and accessible, whilst giving food for thought.
We wished it to be suitable for a range of staff, who could use it at different levels.
We wished to produce something which staff could use when they had an hour or even a few minutes to spare.
We aimed, also, for the e learning to be useful as a resource in training programmes.
The Plan
The plan was to draw from 'real life' patient stories and case studies in the course, so that the learning would feel real and could be readily related to staff's everyday work.
We decided that the material should be in the form of a cartoon, and should have questions after each piece of learning, which had to be answered. There would also be a certificate on completion.
What Happened (so far)
We decided to focus on long tem conditions in the case studies/patient stories, with cartoon characters representing patients and their conditions and patient journeys.
We spoke with two carer groups about what they would like to see in the video, and drew on this, our own, wide collective experiences and finally the common core principles, to select what learning the course would offer.
The main character we named Stan, an acronym for Skills, Tools, Advice, Networks.
We worked with Virtual College to make the training course into the e learning module.
What was Achieved
The e learning course is now available (see contact, below).
The course has already been tested once and is now in its second phase of testing. The feedback to date has been very positive
What Helped and What Hindered
Working in partnership with Virtual College meant that our ideas could take form more easily. The material could be professionally produced and advice was at hand about what might work.
Evaluation
Feedback has been positive so far.
What New or Changed Skills do People Need to Work in This Way?
All health workers need to see themselves as working in partnership with patients; as a resource and a spur to support people to make the most of their lives by managing their conditions. The common core principles are a good reminder of the skills which
health and care workers need, and these are set out in the course in a fun way, related to real life examples.
The Future
The module is free within the health authority, but Virtual College mark any use out of borough, and give a percentage of it back to us. This partnership means we now have a sustainable funding stream which we will use to support further modules.
Contact details
Libby McCready
0191 529 7105
Libby.mccready@sotw.nhs.uk
Date
30.3.09
