Consultations

Do you receive Direct Payments? Surrey County Council wants to know what is working and what could be better, and your ideas for improvements. CLOSES 29 OCTOBER.

This survey is a great opportunity to assess what progress has been made on the recommendations and determine whether they have been implemented consistently, along with what further work needs to be done to improve outcomes for families. So, if you use Home to School Travel Assistance of any form, please do complete Family Voice Surrey’s survey - positive experiences are just as important to evidence as negative.

Surrey County Council are creating a new travel policy and need your views. If you have received support from Adult Social Care or are the carer of someone who has, please share your experiences and views. The policy aims to promote people's independence, choice and control around travel. CLOSES 13 NOVEMBER.

Do you care for someone with a disability they were born with or developed in childhood, and are they Black or of Black Mixed Heritage and aged 40 plus? Researcher Emily from the University of Surrey would like to interview you about your experiences of caring for an older Black adult. Interviews will be 90 minutes max (by phone). There is a £30 Amazon voucher for participation. Enquiries to [email protected] CLOSES AUGUST 2024.

Surrey and Borders Partnership (SABP) are exploring how people with long-term conditions can be better supported through the use of health monitoring technology. They want to hear carers’ views on how they think things like smart watches, health apps and health rate monitors can help – and what barriers there are to use. If you care for someone with a long-term condition such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, stroke, or dementia, please complete the survey. Takes 10 minutes. CLOSES 2025

This survey is for people with physical disability living in the Surrey Heath Place area, which includes Surrey Heath Borough Council (SHBC) areas except Bisley, West End and Chobham and people living in the Guildford Borough Council (GBC) Ash Vale area served by Bartlett Group GP Practice. The aim of the survey is to understand what gets in the way of accessing services and other activities.

Surrey Coalition is working with Surrey Heartlands and SCC to understand the experiences of Autistic people and people with learning disabilities, who have experienced crisis that may have lead to an unplanned admission to a mental health hospital or specialist units. The researchers are looking for 10 Surrey participants to join for a research conversation, and for an optional follow up group. If the person you care for is Autistic/has a LD, that has experienced a mental health crisis, he or she might like to participate with this important research. Please email [email protected]

Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum (SMEF) and Surrey Coalition of Disabled People (The Coalition) are currently working on a research project looking at the experiences of South-Asian adults within mental health services in Surrey and North-East Hampshire.

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust (SASH) has created a public involvement network – SASH people’s panel. This is an opportunity to have a say on services at East Surrey Hospital, Crawley, Horsham and Caterham Dene. Members will be sent regular news and updates about the Trust and its services, and will be invited to get involved and have a say – this may be through surveys and focus groups, online and in person meetings and events, and more. The people’s panel is open to anyone aged 14 years and older who lives or works in Reigate and Banstead, Mole Valley, Tandridge, Croydon, Crawley and Horsham – or those with an interest. SASH want as many people as possible, including young people, and those from a minority or protected characteristic group, to get involved and have their say.

Do you care for someone with Dementia? Would you be interested in helping to shape the development of the NHS’s new role ‘Dementia Care Coordinator’? The role is being evaluated by the University of Surrey, who wish to find carers to be part of a group to assist, by sharing their experience and views. The study name is: A realist evaluation of the Kent and Medway Dementia Care Coordinator service in primary care and across care pathways. However, they are looking for carers from anywhere in England. Participation will include attending four (online) meetings across the two year project, commenting on documents, inputting into evaluations of study findings and advising on other aspects of the project, such as engagement with people with dementia. You will be part of a small group of individuals (four max) who share common experiences with you. There is payment for participation, if you are chosen to take part. To enquire further, please contact Dr Ruth Abrams, project lead, University of Surrey: [email protected]

Do you care for someone with Dementia? Would you be interested in helping to shape the development of the NHS’s new role ‘Dementia Care Coordinator’? The role is being evaluated by the University of Surrey, who wish to find carers to be part of a group to assist, by sharing their experience and views. Participation will include attending four (online) meetings across the two year project, commenting on documents, inputting into evaluations of study findings and advising on other aspects of the project, such as engagement with people with dementia. You will be part of a small group of individuals (four max) who share common experiences with you. There is payment for participation, if you are chosen to take part. More on link, for more info please contact Dr Ruth Abrams, project lead, University of Surrey: [email protected] CLOSES LATE 2024.

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust would like to hear the views of people in Surrey on the use of digital technology in healthcare. The survey results will enable the trust to design and shape new services.

Researchers at Liverpool University wish to talk with carers (current and former) of people who experienced psychosis, to understand these difficult situations. The aim is to aid others by working with health and welfare services to improve the support available for carers. Interviews should be no more than an hour, and the two researchers Issy and Jess will ensure the discussions are confidential, friendly, and supportive. To find out more, please email Issy: [email protected] CLOSES TBC

A major University College London study wants to hear from parents/carers of neurodivergent children aged 4-12 who don't use spoken multi-word phrases to communicate. The study wants to know why some children have this difficulty, and how it impacts their social, cognitive and emotional development. There are four waves of data collection, involving a discussion/survey each time, and you'll receive £25 for each wave. For more info email [email protected]

The NHS wants the public views on the future location of specialist cancer services for children living in London and the south east of England. Changes mean the current specialist cancer treatment services must move, and there are two new options proposed for this 'principal treatment centre'. They need your views on these options. CLOSES 18 DECEMBER.

Do you support someone living with a severe mental health condition? And have you ever experienced aggression from this person that you care for? King’s College London are running a study called TARGET – Targeting Aggression in caReGiving rElatTonships – and seek carer to speak to about exploring the usefulness of a new group training programme. More on the link or contact: [email protected] CLOSES WHEN SUFFICIENT STUDY PARTICIPANTS

Calling male carers. A student at Birkbeck, University of London is carrying out research into the experiences of male carers – a group who as the minority, are often underrepresented in the discussion of carers’ lives and needs. He wants to interview male carers to hear about your experiences, the challenges and rewards and the impact it’s had on your life (social, physical, financial and emotional). The interview would last an hour and can be done by phone or Zoom. If you’d like to participate, please email [email protected]. CLOSES 10 SEPTEMBER.

A study from UCL is looking to find out what culturally sensitive interventions and resources would work best for people who speak Urdu and are caring for someone with dementia. The aim is to understand needs better, and create an adapted version of i-Support (iSupport is a skills and training programme for carers of people with dementia from the WHO, available online.)

If you are caring for a loved one with cancer, you are invited to participate in a University study on the impact of coaching on carers' wellbeing. Participants will be offered four free online coaching sessions (each an hour) and after these, there will be an interview to gauge the benefit to your wellbeing. Recruitment to the study takes place July and August 2023.

Do you provide unpaid care for a friend or relative with dementia? Share your experiences and take part in the first study in the UK to investigate the benefits of an online support program for carers. ‘iSupport’ is an education and self-care website for carers of people with dementia, developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Right now, 33 countries are adapting iSupport in 31 different languages. A research team, led by Bangor University, need your help to investigate whether iSupport is effective in reducing stress, and in improving resilience and knowledge of dementia.

A psychology student at the University of Greenwich is conducting a study on understanding and exploring how the COVID 19 pandemic affected the lives of young adult carers – how it affected in particular their mental health and responsibilities. The study is anonymous.

This study on the mental wellbeing of carers specifically focuses on understanding how carers of young people with emotional outbursts have coped during the pandemic and the impact of that on their daily lives and access to support.

Are you a carer for a person with a neurodegenerative disease? DCU School of Psychology is running a study to examine the psychological well-being and post-traumatic growth of family caregivers of people with neurodegenerative diseases. They would appreciate it if you could get involved.