Video conferencing in the third sector during COVID-19
- Written by: — Digital Health and Care National Lead
- Published: 20th October 2020
The latest ALLIANCE report shines a light on third sector experiences of using video conferencing platforms during the COVID-19 lockdown.
It can be hard to accept that seven months have passed since the onset of lockdown. At the beginning of March, we were still planning engagement events and extensive travels across Scotland to deliver our projects. By the end of the same month, the entire ALLIANCE team were working from home, workshops were temporarily put on hold and contingency plans were established for what most thought would be a 6-week lockdown.
Only a month before COVID-19 forced this sudden change, we filmed a series of short videos on the use of video conferencing (VC) in the third sector. Back then, we knew of a handful of health and social care charities that used VC tools on a regular basis. In most cases, this was because geographical challenges or the characteristics of certain long term conditions which can make traveling for appointments tiresome and difficult. But by the time we released our case studies, many other organisations also had to start considering remote service delivery.
Between July and August 2020, we carried out a small-scale mixed methods research project with third sector organisations to understand their experiences and needs around using VC. This was prompted by our desire to learn how organisations were coping with the adoption of new technology in the face of new circumstances and challenges.
Our research was done in parallel with another considerable piece of work around VC, the Near Me public engagement. We were conscious of this and made sure that our aims were different, but complementary, to those of the national Near Me exercise. Therefore, the purpose of our work was to understand the needs of third sector organisations using VC technologies as a result of COVID-19 and to determine what sector specific support is required going forward.
Our findings show that the majority of the organisations that we engaged with had moved to remote service delivery quite swiftly once the March 2020 lockdown was announced. Organisations went to great efforts to continue providing essential services to their clients, such as advice, training and counselling.
Our report seeks to throw light on some of the key enablers and benefits of remote service delivery in the third sector. However, it also acknowledges the vast challenges of not only delivering services remotely, but also those of rapid implementation in a pandemic context. Many organisations had to consider challenges they had not encountered before, such as reaching those without devices, rapidly upskilling staff and volunteers to use digital or even safeguarding clients online.
While the findings of this small-scale research project align with those of other studies published during COVID-19, they also highlight the difficult task third sector organisations have had to undertake to continue delivering their services. To charities used to delivering their work on the ground, digital can feel new and unfamiliar, and there is little support or clear sector-specific guidance around the technology.
It is therefore important to ensure that adequate consideration is given to the experience of third sector organisations. With the prospect of further lockdowns on the horizon, steps should be taken to manage this continued transition in and out of remote service delivery. To support this, our report sets a number of recommendations for policy makers, technology developers and third sector adopters to consider, in order to ensure that remote service delivery becomes an option which empowers Scotland’s people, services and organisations and contributes to better outcomes.
End of page.
You may also like:
Promoting rights awareness through accessible information and the voice of lived experience.
Continue readingThe third sector’s economic contribution and development seems to be too often overlooked.
Continue readingDigital Assistant Director, Chris Mackie reflects how the lack of an appropriate sticker led to the destruction of medical records.
Continue reading"Because no one put a sticker on them."
Continue readingWhy it matters to you to participate in the public consultation on 'A draft outline Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use'.
Continue readingDr Tony Robertson reflects on how we make the right to health a reality for everyone.
Continue readingOver 12 million people live with Congenital Heart Disease globally with a population of 20,000 in Scotland.
Continue readingRory Chapman (Development Officer) reflects on the What Matters to You National Networking Event
Continue readingGiving unique insights into individual's lives, experiences, needs, and sense of character.
Continue readingReflections on a Self Management Reflective Practice (SMRP) session, from a Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland Advice and Support Practitioner.
Continue readingLucy highlights some ALLIANCE human rights activity from this year and to mark Human Rights Day 2023.
Continue readingChief Executive of Scottish Care, Donald Macaskill, critically reflects on the Winter Preparedness Plan.
Continue readingCalum reflects on the Community Partnership Conference 2023 in Inverness, which was built on trusting relationships and partnership working.
Continue readingSelf Management Network Scotland members Foundation for Positive Mental Health on how their free app can help with workforce wellbeing.
Continue readingHannah Tweed asks, “what next?” and calls for action from Scottish Government on the findings of the National Audiology Review.
Continue reading"Modern football clubs have a responsibility to engage with and take care of the communities they represent".
Continue readingMark Ballard outlines writes that it is time for the Scottish Government to act on the National Audiology Review
Continue readingCalum reflects on the Design HOPES launch event and the value that the third sector can add to the potentially world-leading project.
Continue readingSenior Development Officer for the Children and Young People Programme reflects on the current nature of funding in the sector.
Continue readingDirect support to disabled people, people living with long term conditions and unpaid carers would be wiser use of funds.
Continue readingThe essential role integration has to play in delivering the Scottish Government's Value Based Health and Care Action Plan.
Continue readingALLIANCE Chief Officer, Sara Redmond, reflects on the co-design process of the National Care Service.
Continue readingAlthough we focus our events and awareness raising activity around one particular week in the year, self management is a year-round focus.
Continue readingThe Links Worker Programme in Glasgow, community development and cuts to the service.
Continue readingThe central role Community Links Practitioners play in supporting mental health care in Glasgow.
Continue reading