The BLNs Methodology in Practice: Feedback on the initial series of meetings

Blended Learning Networks (BLNs) are a key method we use in the WELL CARE project to involve our main target groups—informal carers and long-term care workers—along with various stakeholders. There are a total of 87 BLN members involved in the project, with 12 to 25 members per partner country. The BLN members have different roles and operate at local, organizational, or national levels. In addition to informal carers and LTC workers, they also include for example, care managers, trade union workers, HR managers, representatives from civil society and from professional associations and decision- and policy makers.

BLNs are heterogeneous communities of practice where members share their unique knowledge and experiences with each other and learn from each other, and in this way build new knowledge together.  In our project, they provide their valuable expertise, feedback, and validate the project’s activities and outputs. Their insights are continuously shaping the development of our work.

Each partner country (Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Sweden) holds five BLN sessions per year (either online or in real life) and they are coordinated by the partner Nka – the Swedish Family Care Competence Centre. The first kick off session in all five countries took place in March this year with the aim of members getting to know each other and to learn more about the project and their roles.

Screenshot of the Italian BLN meeting ©

Topics for the BLN discussions in the Spring and early Summer focused on mental wellbeing and resilience in which members emphasised the importance of inner contentment, a balanced life, positive relationships and supportive collaborations within the health and social care system and wider community. The concept of care partnerships was also explored with members seeing it as a dynamic collaboration involving the care recipient, informal carers and LTC workers and other participants that changed according to needs. Some members admitted care partnerships was a new concept to them and was more of an ideal or a vision for the future. Members emphasised the importance of developing trust and mutual understanding in care partnerships.

Authors: Elin-Sofie Forsgärde, Elizabeth Hanson

Illustration: A screenshot of the Swedish BLN members ©