The ongoing physical, financial, and psychological impact of COVID-19 has led to problems of recruitment and retention in social care - likely to worsen due to the ageing of the current care workforce, with over 1/4 of adult social carers aged over 55. The rising cost of living is also of deep concern for care workers, who represent some of the lowest paid workers in the UK – 1 in 4 carers were living in or on the brink of poverty even before the COVID-19 pandemic, causing widespread demoralisation.
Using in-depth qualitative methodology to explore these experiences and concerns will offer strong, emotive insight into the impact of these various and coalescing factors within individual lives.
We are seeking to hear from individuals on the frontlines of social care, policy stakeholders and social care providers. Hearing from those ‘on the front lines’ of these financial and social challenges offers a unique opportunity - not only to highlight the most influential issues from their respective and unique positions, but to use those narratives to produce realistic recommendations for policy and national strategy.
Who can take part?
We are looking for:
Care workers
- employed as a care worker at the height of the COVID pandemic (2020/2021) and;
- aged between 18-25 or over the age of 50
AND
Policy stakeholders/social care providers
- employed in a relevant position, responsible for the provision of care
- Job role eligibility to be screened/approved by research team prior to data collection
What will I have to do?
If you choose to take part in the project, we will have a semi-structured conversation about the experiences faced during, and since, the COVID-19 pandemic; key challenges or barriers to providing care; and concerns or suggestions around the future of the care sector.
These interviews will take place at a quiet, private location of your choosing – whether this is your place of work, your home, or any other neutral space you feel comfortable in (such as a café or public library).
Interviews will last around one hour and will be audio-recorded, with your consent.
A small number of people will then be invited to take part in a second part of the study: sound-sourcing, also called ‘audio-diaries’, or photovoice. Sound-sourcing will involve you recording short audio-diaries related to a particular topic (for example: 'key challenges faced at work'), and photovoice involves taking photographs that represent the topic.
This process will take place over 6 weeks, and we are seeking at least 6 images or audio diaries to be submitted by participants during that time, but you can record as many entries or take as many photos as desired.
After the 6 weeks, you will then be invited to a final interview, where you can expand on any concerns or comments, as well as the research process itself.
What are the benefits of taking part?
Care workers will be offered £20 voucher for participating in first-round of interviews. Those individuals who are then asked to participate in sound-sourcing or photovoice will be given a £50 voucher prior to data collection, and then another £50 on completion of an exit interview where the photos and/or audio files are discussed in detail.
We hope that sharing your unique experiences and concerns in a private space will be a positive, reflective experience. Your essential contribution to this project, and specific suggestions for improvements in the care sector, will allow us to make more useful and sustainable recommendations.