Carer-focussed rapid-learning pandemic legacy projects

• Up to £10k available for successful projects
• Submission deadline, using the attached proforma: 00hrs Monday 31st January 2022

The Commitment to Carers Programme team of NHS England & NHS Improvement is looking forward to receiving project bids from Voluntary Sector organisations on the theme of capturing learning and best practice around supporting unpaid carers/ family members during the COVID pandemic response, including increasing uptake of vaccination of unpaid carers. Our belief is that there have been innovative approaches developed at a local/ community level for which some funding will help to evaluate, sustain, communicate and spread best practice for wider benefit and inform and embed more collaborative ways of working going forward.

We are particularly interested in gathering learning from Community-based organisations that have been working with local authorities or primary care networks/ social prescribing link workers, within specific vulnerable or disadvantaged communities and where family-centred approaches are being used.

It is hoped this work will improve our understanding from a community and a patient & carer perspective about what processes/outcomes are most important to recognise and get right and what is, can and should be focussed on in future.

The Projects chosen will have to demonstrate current knowledge and commitment to the carerÂ’s agenda and/or a workplan that shows a commitment to improvement. Where there are more bids than available funds projects will be selected to provide a broad cross-section of project content; size, geographies, health inequalities, economic disadvantage and diverse community coverage to maximise opportunities for shared learning, adoption and spread.

Project payments will be made up to a maximum of £10k according to the scope and scale of each project.

Some examples of the type of projects we would consider are listed below but this is not an exhaustive list and only a guide so please donÂ’t be shy:

• Review of how unpaid carers are included, their views and needs understood and acted upon as part of efforts to reduce isolation at a community level e.g. through befriending offers
• Evaluation and promotion of schemes to improve access for unpaid carers to digital resources (e.g. Tablets) and training by completing a video of carers experiences
• What new services have been developed and introduced, when “face-to-face” services were not possible, that will be maintained and what has been the experience/response of carers.
• What innovative methods have been used to increase the uptake of vaccinations by unpaid carers. How has this learning been used to signpost unpaid carers to other services?

A final project report needs to be received by latest 28th April 2022, describing activities undertaken, specific learning points around sustainability, collaborative working and next steps.

For the Proforma click here Carer rapid-learning pandemic legacy projects proforma FINAL_

Please complete the Proforma by latest 17.00hrs on Monday 31st January 2022.

Our intention is to confirm successful bids by 17.00hrs on Thursday 3rd February 2022.

If you need more information please send an email in the first instance to: england.nhsthinkcarer@nhs.net and put NHS E&I Carer Spring 2022 Project in the subject line for easy identification.