Cash for Independent People (CHIP) is a banking app that supports adults with learning disabilities in digital transformation – it’s fully tailored to what people need. It recognises that money is becoming digitalised, but people with learning disabilities are being left behind. It is the winning project in NCF’s Care Innovation Challenge.
CMM: Congratulations Team CHIP! How does it feel to be crowned the winner?
Team CHIP (Megan): I am ecstatic to be honest! The
number of people who have been so excited about what we are doing is amazing. I’m just so excited, I couldn’t have asked for anything more really.
Team CHIP (Lauren): I do feel really emotional about it because this is about people’s real lives and their experiences. Throughout the challenge, we heard how the topic of payment for people with disabilities is a real challenge and it’s amazing that we can do something together and collaborate to implement change – it’s incredibly inspiring.
CMM: How much preparation have you done since we last spoke?
Team CHIP (Lauren): We focused on co-production. Our mentor, Paula Fairweather, really encouraged us to speak to people with lived experience rather than ploughing ahead and building an app based on assumption. It was important to actually speak to people and take the time to listen. We have done a lot of listening. Whether that’s with social workers, local authorities, professionals working in the sector or people with lived experience, we have been listening, listening and listening and that’s going to continue.
Team CHIP (Megan): We are constantly learning. We have a potential solution, but we aren’t saying that this version of CHIP that we have right now is the absolute answer. When we speak to someone, we are learning something new. We need to put phase one out there and learn, test and try again. It’s been so exciting getting to speak to real people at the Care Show and learning how we can take CHIP forward.
CMM: What feedback did you receive at the event?
Team CHIP (Lauren): What I really liked was that the Care Show is a really busy event – we spoke to people and said, ‘come and chat to us’ and, despite everyone being so busy, as soon as we mentioned the idea, they were like, ‘Oh, wait, that is actually really interesting.’ It’s nice that people got really engaged with the idea and asked interesting questions about how the app could be used to help people with different conditions: what about dementia; what about mental health, etc. So many people told us their stories. A lady spoke to us about her daughter who has a learning disability and is going through the process of setting up a bank account. This lady was very generous with her time and spoke to us about what the challenges felt like to them and the anxiety both she and her daughter felt. She said something like CHIP could really help.
CMM: What’s next for Team CHIP?
Team CHIP (Lauren): I probably need about three litres of water and a good night’s sleep first! We have met people with a range of experience, whether that’s in tech, banking, providers or people specialising in supporting people with learning disabilities. It’s going to be a case of going forward with those connections and having those meetings, then really honing the plan. There’s lots of options, it’s a case of working out what is going to be the best one for us. How do we maintain the central aim that we have? We recognise that we need someone on the team who has that banking/tech background. It’s about working together to help take it to market really.
Team CHIP (Megan): No matter the pace of this project, it’s important to keep the co-production element at the core. It’s what’s key for us. We don’t want to go down the route of just developing a solution.
CMM: What would be your advice for next year’s entrants?
Team CHIP (Megan): I would say learn about your problem first. Don’t go to the solution immediately – explore the problem, dive deep into it, collaborate openly and communicate well with each other.
Team CHIP (Lauren): Don’t be afraid to go on your own. Megan and I went to the weekend in Coventry on our own, not knowing anyone. I was a bit nervous driving there and I almost regretted signing up because I had a really busy week at work. I was driving there and I thought, I don’t know what to expect. If you are going alone, don’t let that put you off because it could be your strength. I would never have met Megan without doing the weekend and I wouldn’t have had all of her knowledge and insight. Oh, and take coffee!
CMM: How would you sum up your partnership with the National Care Forum (NCF)?
Team CHIP (Megan): I would like to say a massive thank you to the NCF for the opportunity. The weekend in Coventry was just incredible. I’ve been to many different events like that, and they haven’t been anywhere near as good! The NCF’s support has been incredible, and everything has been so streamlined and supportive.
Team CHIP (Lauren): A massive thank you to Helen Glasspool and Professor Vic Rayner OBE, and all of the NCF team. Their energy and passion for the sector is what’s helped keep it going. Vic said it in her speech, ‘The challenge is about the people drawing on care and support.’ It’s about that co-production. For me, that’s what attracted me to it. It is about business and innovation, but it’s about teamwork. Our mentor, Paula, was so generous with her time and was a real cheerleader. I think keep doing it, it’s brilliant, we need it. We need more partners on board to make it a big thing. We are very big on girl power too! There are so many people working in social care who don’t realise the skills and talent they have because we are such an unrecognised sector. There are so many front-line support professionals and registered managers who don’t realise how skilled and talented they are. I would say to those people – it’s important they realise how much they have to offer and can help to develop innovation.
CMM: How have your families and friends reacted to your success?
Team CHIP (Megan): After my interview with CMM, I did finally tell my parents! I thought maybe I should tell them. They were so buzzing for me. They don’t know I’m here at the Care Show! I’m missing two full days at university, but this isn’t a day I would miss.
Team CHIP (Lauren): My sister is going to be really mad
at me because she said I can’t get another job! I’ve already got two jobs. I’m going to have to go: ‘I’m really sorry,
but we won!’
Supporting CHIP
Team CHIP’s mentor, Paula Fairweather, National Coproduction Advisor at Think Local, Act Personal (TLAP), said, ‘I’m absolutely elated for Lauren and Megan. They have both worked so hard and are well-deserving winners. It’s a fantastic product and I’m looking forward to our continued work together. I can’t wait to see the progression of this wonderful app that will be life changing for many. It has been an absolute pleasure working with Megan and Lauren.’
Lauren’s Manager, Renny Wodynska, Head of Midlands Area Team at Skills for Care, said, ‘Skills for Care is extremely proud of Lauren and her colleague, Megan, Team CHIP. It’s really important that we support innovation in the sector; to see individuals like Lauren and Megan coming up with this idea, and all the co-production that’s part of it, is just fantastic. I’m really proud and I’ve let my chief executive know. I’ve let my director know already and they just went ‘wahoo!’.
Renny added, ‘It’s just such a fantastic idea and I think it really generates different thinking. Different people with different attitudes, knowledge, coming to support the social care sector. We have got to think differently. I think as we get older, I’m in my 60s, people will want more tech, more digital solutions, we are used to them at work. It’s different when you are in your 90s, 100s etc, but for people of my generation, we are working with tech, we want to be self-supporting, so this is brilliant. I’m just so proud. I think it’s wonderful.’
Professor Vic Rayner OBE, Chief Executive Officer of the National Care Forum and Chair of the judging panel, said, ‘What a fantastic end to a brilliant three-month adventure with some amazing participants who have shown huge passion, drive and commitment towards changing the face of care, improving the quality of care for people who receive care and for bringing their enthusiasm to the sector. We loved working with them all – it’s a shame that everybody can’t win. We are delighted that Team CHIP has taken the final prize and we look forward to seeing what is going to happen with them in the future and can’t wait for next year’s challenge. Bring it on!’.
Lauren Stacey is Locality Manager at Skills for Care and Support Professional for Wellys Workplace. Email: [email protected]
Megan Hamill is studying Geography and Innovation at Bristol University and is a podcast host. Email: [email protected]
For more information about the Care Innovation weekend, visit www.careinnovationhub.org.uk