Participate in research

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.

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 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.

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.