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Social Care During COVID-19: Coping with Self-Isolation and Social Distancing

Explore and learn to manage the impact of self-isolation and social distancing on yourself and vulnerable social groups.

4,687 enrolled on this course

Two women wearing face masks sat down. The younger woman is handing the older woman a plastic bag
  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    1 hour

Learn coping strategies to respond to the impact of COVID-19 social distancing

The increase in anxiety and uncertainty due to COVID-19 is placing increased pressure on the social care workforce, as well as those receiving help.

This pandemic has highlighted a need for enhanced social care within communities, such as individuals relying on neighbors and local services.

On this course, you’ll explore the impact of self-isolation and social distancing on social care, as well as the added vulnerabilities that COVID-19 may create.

You’ll make sense of your experiences, gain different perspectives, and explore ways of coping with the challenges of living in a pandemic when you’re giving or relying on social care.

What topics will you cover?

  • The factors of self-isolation and social distancing, specific to COVID-19, which creates the issue of social vulnerability for individuals, groups and society as a whole.
  • A journey of understanding the impact of change, brought about by factors such as social isolation and social distancing at all of these levels, in a way that invites empathy and compassion within and across the system.
  • The notion of ‘vulnerability’ and the additional layer of complexity that this poses, in relation to those who provide care and help to vulnerable people, such as social care professionals and residential, domiciliary and home based carers.
  • The concept of uncertainty, with consideration to how we find ways to cope with this in the present moment and beyond COVID-19.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Explore some of the current and future changes for society and the social care workforce in particular, brought about by self-isolation and social distancing, since the onset of COVID-19
  • Identify a range of reactions people may have to a global pandemic or crises
  • Explore the concept of ‘vulnerability’ and how this may be defined within the context of self-isolation and social distancing
  • Explore how the impact of a pandemic affects individuals differently at different times and what some of these differences and circumstances may be
  • Identify the reactions and impacts of self-isolation and social distancing, which are particular to yourself individually
  • Explore ways of addressing the impact of factors such as self-isolation and social distancing for yourself and others
  • Explore a range of coping strategies to help yourself or others to address the impact of self-isolation and social distancing
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of a range of coping strategies on yourself and others
  • Discuss with others interested in the impact of self-isolation and social distancing on those connected to the social care workforce
  • Reflect on the learning from the course and what this might help you with in the future as the landscape of COVID-19 unfolds

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for social care professionals, including residential, domiciliary, and home-based carers.

It will also be useful for anyone struggling with self-isolation and social distancing who would like to learn how to address their feelings and develop coping strategies.

Who will you learn with?

I am a social worker and senior lecturer at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. I am interested in the emotional and psycho-social landscape of social work practice.

I work at the Tavistock & Portman NHS FT as a Clinical Psychologist for the Team Around the Practice (TAP) and Curriculum Developer in the trust's Directorate of Education & Training.

I work at the Tavistock & Portman NHS FT as Portfolio Manager for Social Care, Leadership in the trust's Directorate of Education & Training and as an organisational and leadership consultant.

Who developed the course?

The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust

For 100 years, the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust has been at the forefront of bringing new approaches to treating those who are in mental distress.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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