Supporting carers - human centred design incorporating nudges
Author: Gary Wootten linkedin.com/in/gary-wootten-fcim-frsa-cmrs-0b03012b
Mytime, an award-winning scheme offering breaks to unpaid carers, has secured a Catalyst Grant from the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce). Mytime, a programme developed by charity Local Solutions, provides unpaid carers with breaks donated by local businesses such as overnight hotel stays, afternoon teas and theatre tickets. Currently Mytime breaks are only available to carers in Liverpool but this Catalyst grant will fund the development of a digital platform to help facilitate breaks for carers in other areas.
Wirral based social marketing agency, Hitch, have been selected to develop the digital platform that will help accelerate Mytime breaks being available in other areas across the UK. A human-centred design approach is being adopted, starting with a desk study, stakeholder interviews and persona development, followed by the formation of a user stakeholder panel to co-design the sustainable service. The digital platform will be developed and piloted during 2020, and then launched from the start of 2021.
With the growing evidence-base of ‘nudge’ practices to engage users with digital services, the new digital platform will consider a range of features that support nudge theory, such as push notifications for registered carers based on triaging, preferences and analysing user behaviour before, during and after breaks. It will be supported by staff on the ground to engage and reward the right carers at the right time.
Gary Wootten, Fellow of the RSA and project lead at Hitch said, “Mytime has huge national potential to reward carers for what they do, through blending an innovative digital solution with on the ground link staff to engage the right people and organisations.”
Kimberley Staines – Engagement Manager, RSA said “We’re pleased to be supporting MyTime’s work empowering carers to seek breaks from their critical work of caregiving. This is an important initiative addressing working structures and health and well-being and we look forward to the platform’s future development with the help of the RSA Catalyst Award.”