The E-Profid is part-funded by the European Commission's Erasmus Plus programme.

The Covid-19 crisis has changed the way we live, especially for those already marginalised by disability, ill-health & social exclusion. The pandemic has accentuated isolation & inequality and has resulted in compounding mental health issues & loneliness. It has also shown that the Care Sector must find ways to adapt to keep its clients active, safe & protected. The value of Care Workers has finally been recognised. The crisis has also accentuated skills gaps and has highlighted the need to use digital skills in many aspects of people's daily lives, especially to communicate when physical visiting is not possible.

People with severe disabilities & others in closed communities have no other way of keeping in touch with their families and support circles. Many do not have the capacity to use digital tools themselves and rely on residential staff to enable virtual contact. Many staff do not have the skills to perform the most basic digital tasks and are consequently frustrated by their own inability to ease the suffering of their clients. The limitations of our current digital preparedness have been revealed. Currently, at least 85% of jobs require some level of digital ability, while only 56% of adults had at least basic digital skills in 2019. In the Care Sector this is much higher.

This project is led by Diagrama Foundation UK and brings together partners from Belgium, France, Spain & Italy. The partners create a new training course for workers in the Social Care Sector 'Digital Facilitator of Change' and a Digital Inclusion Toolkit. The Transnational Steering Group meets regularly & there are 4 mini-seminars. Local Focus groups drive the project at local level.

Objectives
1. Create a new professional profile for workers in the Social Care Sector by creating a new needs-driven vocational training course

2. Overcome social exclusion & isolation by opening digital communication pathways
3. Influence public perception of Diversity as part of life in all life contexts

4. Foster 'Professional Identity' for people with disabilities/other excluded groups, celebrating 'ability' and using cornerstones of Empowerment

5. Build & mainstream a Digital inclusion Toolkit with potential to transfer to other sectors Methodology

In this project Social Care Sector workers are trained to become Digital Facilitators of Change. They undergo specialist transnational training modules in Belgium to cultivate deeper digital knowledge and also study ways in which the public's perception must be changed to endorse clients' "ability" rather than recognise disability using Professional Identity. Salerno University provides training modules to recognise disabilities in working contexts and in particular in the context of diversity. The UK completes the course by pooling innovation and participative learning creating the Digital Facilitator Toolkit.

Together the partners pilot the concept of "Micro-credentials" (New EU Skills Agenda) issuing units for each module of training completed, led by University of Salerno. Learner Participants use their learning to facilitate digital communication channels for clients and their family networks & support circles. Working alongside occupational tutors they also promote clients' work and employment opportunities through highlighting creativity and artistic talents. This includes virtual tutor sessions and online workshops with the public invited to interact or observe. Digital tools provide virtual shops, marketing products created by talented crafts-people further aiding clients' professional recognition & pathways to work.

Results include

1. New Digital Inclusion Tookit for promoting communication & well-being & access to work

2. One new training course, 'Digital Facilitator of Change' piloting 3 Micro-credential units preparing the course for mainstreaming 

3. Care/Social Workers in each partner country trained as Digital Facilitators of Change & Euro-Pass Certificates.

4. Four Transnational Steering Group meetings & mini-seminars promote societal change & drive diversity awareness & digital readiness

5. One new Network to promote digital social inclusion  

6. One Evaluation Report 

Impact includes qualified, confident, empowered trainees creating happier, healthier work environments 

1. Twenty local creative workshops are held resulting in high quality arts & crafts used & exhibited to promote clients' Professional Identity

2. Twenty disadvantaged creative clients progress towards work, impact includes high levels of self esteem, empowerment and vision of new horizons, impacting on potential to find/sell work.

Diagrama Foundation is a charity for children, young people, adults and families who are experiencing social difficulties, at risk of exclusion or who are similarly disadvantaged. Diagrama Foundation has a range of services and projects in the UK including fostering, adoption, residential homes for adults with learning disabilities, young people age 16-25 and elderly. Diagrama is also working towards providing a more effective solution to the rehabilitation of young offenders around the world.

The University of Salerno (UNISA) is ideally linked to the oldest academic institution in the Old Continent: the Schola Medica Salernitana. The mission of the University of Salerno is to carry out research and educational programmes, developing links with the surrounding area while respecting the environment, with the aim of creating, enriching and, at the same time, offering a scientific, cultural heritage to students, enterprises, institutions and in general to the whole community.

Group Ubuntu is a social network organization and supports vulnerable people and families. By empowering them, Group Ubuntu goes for nothing less than their own valued place in society. By actively listening, Group Ubuntu seeks unique and creative support answers.

Fundación Diagrama Intervención Psicosocial is a non-profit organisation that has been assisting vulnerable and socially excluded people since 1991, always ensuring the defence and promotion of Human Rights. Diagrama’s main objective is to promote and develop centres, services, programmes and research aimed at prevention, treatment and integration of people in difficult life situations and at risk of social exclusion, especially children, young people, families, women and dependants.

Disclaimer

"The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein."