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      3. Introduction
        1. Introduction
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        3. Who can help you with PCIE?
        4. Terminology and PCIE
      4. Why and When to do PCIE
        1. Why and When to do PCIE
        2. Why involve members of the public in research?
        3. Why do members of the public want to get involved in research?
        4. When to get members of the public involved?
      5. How to do PCIE
        1. How to do PCIE
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        3. Budgeting
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        5. How to recruit members of the public
        6. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
        7. Approaches – different options for undertaking PCIE
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Around 40 people from across Kent, Surrey and Sussex came together on 12 October to discuss challenges for the homecare sector and how digital innovation might help. 

Hosted by Kent, Surrey and Sussex Academic Health Science Network (KSS AHSN) and Applied Research Collaboration Kent Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS), the event was attended by homecare providers, member organisations, commissioners, academic institutions, voluntary and community organisations, as well as members of the public.

Chaired by, Becky Sharp, Implementation Lead for Social Care at ARC KSS, the event included presentations from:

  • Cat Young, Programme Manager at KSS AHSN - who led a session titled “Even Better If…”, exploring the challenges that might be supported and improved through the use of technology in order to make our fantastic homecare services even better.  
  • Roger McDermott, Senior Programme Manager at West of England AHSN, who shared details of a project underway, piloting a workforce optimisation technology to help ease the pressure on both domiciliary care workers and providers.
  • Matthew Kalupka from Home Counties Carers and Tim Wilson from Assist Group Care, who gave an overview of their own extensive experience of using and implementing technology in the homecare sector.
  • And, Dr Alison Tingle from the University of Hertfordshire, who outlined the initial findings from an NIHR National ARC Social Care research project, exploring technologies that contribute to social wellbeing of people living in their own homes and receiving social care.

During the afternoon, attendees were split into groups to consider what the problems are that we might look to technology to help solve, focussed on two key areas of:

  • workforce optimisation, and
  • social well-being.

Becky Sharp, said:

"The homecare sector play a significant and valuable role within our communities, and we are all too familiar with the pressures currently experienced in relation to workforce and how the sector is under-valued.  At the same time, we are seeing a rising demand for care, including more complex care needs, within people’s own homes.

“Many of these people are also at increased risk of loneliness and social isolation, and the associated impact on wellbeing, and both physical and mental health.    

"Today's event has been specifically designed to bring people together to explore how technology can play a part in supporting organisations, care workers and those drawing on care, and ultimately help improve health, wellbeing and overall quality of life."

For further information please contact:  Rebecca Sharp This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Alice Warner This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For a summary of this event please click here. 

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