Participate in research

Researchers from King’s College London are hosting three workshops with people who work in, or are being supported by, homecare services. We will discuss what we’ve found out about homecare workers being asked to do different kinds of healthcare activities, like wound care and giving medication, and we will ask for your input to help us design guidelines and training for healthcare workers.

You will take part in three workshops with other people working in, or being supported by, homecare services. The first workshop is on November 18th 11am-1pm. This will be done online, via video call. You will receive a £150 shopping voucher for each of the three workshops you attend, as well as a certificate of involvement in research (for Continued Professional Development).

An undergraduate student in Human Geography from University College London (UCL) is conducting research about the impact of digital care-matching platforms on the agency of homecare workers.

'Digital care-matching platforms' are apps that 'match' homecare workers with clients - a bit like how Uber matches drivers with passengers. There are lots of organisations trying to create platforms like this for homecare at the moment. 'Agency' means your ability to make decisions freely.

Whether you have experience of apps like this or not, as a homecare worker your thoughts on this topic will be very welcome. The researcher is keen to speak with a few members of our community at a time that suits you, sometime in the next few weeks.

Since the researcher is an undergraduate student, there is no funding supporting this study which means that your participation will be voluntary. Everybody has to start somewhere, so do take part if you can.

We want to learn about the context behind care work including your activities, responsibilities such that we can find more meaningful ways to design and integrate robotics and technology into your work. We are not interested in replacing care workers entirely but enhancing your lives and those of residents & patients. The study involves a brief video, survey and 45 min semi-structured interview.

Help develop a dementia training resource for use in homecare in return for a £15 shopping voucher. Hopes for Homecare is seeking to adapt a dementia training resource which was originally designed for use by specialist support workers, for homecare. To make sure the end result is appropriate, the team from the University of York wishes to interview homecare workers.

Providing care for people living with dementia at home can be challenging due to high levels of stress, burnout, and frequent staff changes among domiciliary care workers. This affects the quality of care for everyone involved. Research shows that matching care worker skills and characteristics to the specific needs and preferences of people living with dementia and their families/friends can improve care. The aim of this project is to improve dementia care in the home. To do this, the project intends to design a digital platform that matches care preferences and availability between people living with dementia and domiciliary care workers.

This research project will develop a new questionnaire that measures care-work-related quality of life. As a care worker your views and opinions about the factors that affect your work-related quality of life are very important.

Study to understand more about the work that homecare workers do supporting clients with motor neurone disease (MND). It looks at the tasks carried out, the equipment used, the skills required, as well as how homecare workers work with family members and other professionals. Involves either a 45 minute online interview, or recording an online diary. Homecare workers who take part will each receive a £25 retail voucher.

We want to hear about your experiences with the visa scheme and its impact on your family life. Participation will involve a 1.5hr interview.

We want to find out what triggers homecare staff to act when they notice something out of the ordinary (that they are concerned about) and what they do next.

Research into the experiences of Romanian and Polish men who work in care. Looking at how men enter care work and how they feel about their job on a day-to-day basis. Participation involves an in-person interview at a location near you, in return for a £20 voucher.

Researchers at University of Leeds are undertaking research to understand how to attract, recruit and retain more male care workers in care homes and home care: The MEND study. They are now interviewing male carers to hear about their experiences and views about what helps to attract, recruit and retain staff in their roles. Interviews will be carried out using online or telephone interviews.

Evaluating the Government's strategy to support Health & Care Worker visa holders who have experienced exploitation.

The working lives of women aged 23-29 working in health and social care. Consists of a 90 minute interview online or in person. Interviewees are given a £20 voucher.

As part of a broader study about care worker organising, the Centre for Care is producing a case study about Homecare Workers' Group. Researcher Duncan Fisher is holding telephone interviews with individual group members as part of this, in return for a £25 voucher.