New collaboration helps shape the future of health and social care

Ask Natalie Palmer to describe her role at ground breaking care organisation Quovita and she replies she is the “Chief Game Changer”. Originally set up in Somerset three years ago, Quovita is working with the Raising Excellence and Aspiration in Care and Health project (REACH Cornwall) to help change the way health and social care services are delivered across Cornwall.

Funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) as part of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Programme and delivered by Truro and Penwith College, REACH Cornwall is bringing employers together to shape the future of social care and health skills provision and ensure that those needing care receive the best possible service.

Launched in 2014, the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Programme has so far invested £385m of EU funding in supporting 108 projects which are helping to deliver smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The 39 European Social Fund (ESF) funded projects are helping people develop new skills and qualifications so they can progress their careers or find employment.

Jenny Gramnes, REACH Cornwall Project Co-ordinator said: “While people working in the social care and health sector in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are doing an amazing job, there are simply not enough people, with the right skills, to meet the ever growing need for these services. We want to raise excellence and aspiration in care and health by working with employers to identify skills shortages and develop tailored courses to provide those skills.”

She added: “Whether they are managing a small or large healthcare organisation, own a care home, run support groups or therapy services, or are involved at the grass roots level, they are all facing the same pressures.  Thanks to ESF funding from the Growth Programme we have been able to create a forum in which all parts of the sector can come together and discuss how to address these pressures.”

“Over the past few months we have staged a number of events for employers to meet and discuss the training they need, as well as the challenges they face in recruiting and retaining staff.  We are now working together to develop high quality solutions that work for their teams.”

The employer led forum is currently working on developing management training, short courses and bespoke programmes, work placements and apprenticeships, and promoting career opportunities.

One of the companies helping REACH Cornwall to develop a different approach to providing health and social care is Quovita.

With an 18-years background in delivering care, Quovita’s founding Director Natalie Palmer believes passionately that the traditional model is broken and needs to change. Describing her model as sitting somewhere between “Match.com” and “Uber.com”, Quovita provides an introduction service, linking those needing care to the right carers for their individual needs.

“With larger companies a client may see numerous different carers, each of whom knows little about them as individuals,” she explained, “our approach is completely different.”

“Rather than directly provide care services, we bring together self employed carers with those seeking good care.  This enables a much more person centred approach where the client feels more secure with familiar faces, and the carer has a greater understanding of the individual’s needs.”

As all Quovita’s carers are self employed, they can choose the hours they want to work, the areas they want to cover and the amount they want to charge clients.

In return Quovita helps with all the essentials they need to get started, including carrying out DBS checks and providing a range of online tool to help with tasks such as keeping track of clients, care visits and invoicing, and supports with personal development.  The company also provides advice and support on lone working and is working with care homes to enable Quovita carers to have access to their facilities.

Natalie is also keen to develop a new pathway to help carers become Care Quality Commission registered, and is working with health and social care professionals to develop systems to share information so that clients do not have to keep telling their story to lots of different organisations.

Natalie said: “Our aim is to shatter the accepted mould in health and social care. As well as creating a new model which supports self employed carers, we also want to change the perception of care being seen as just a job to being rightly valued as a career.”

“We are working with REACH to develop a new apprenticeship system which supports people of all ages to enter the care profession and then enjoy greater flexibility by working as self employed carers. Being self employed does not mean that people are on their own.  We provide help and guidance to carers so they can deliver high quality flexible care to support people to live in the community.” 

Natalie said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with REACH Cornwall to help shape the future of health and social care services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.”

More information about Quovita is available from https://microproviders.care