Unpaid and Hidden Carers Support Sessions

This page helps you get started before your first BlueCap AI workshop.It shows you how to set up a simple AI assistant for organising caring tasks, preparing messages, planning appointments and thinking through the support you need.We use ChatGPT in the examples because it has a free option, works on phones, tablets and computers, and lets you give it instructions about how you want it to help.The same ideas can also work in many other AI tools.

Why this guide uses ChatGPT

These instructions use ChatGPT because it has a free option, works on phones, tablets and computers, and lets you give instructions about how you want it to help. The prompts and tips we are sharing here will work in many AI tools.

Before you start

AI can help you organise caring tasks, prepare messages, plan appointments, make checklists and think through what support you need.Do not share passwords, bank details, private account information, NHS numbers, medical records, benefit letters, housing documents, legal papers, addresses, reference numbers or anything very personal.If you are unsure, wait for a session and ask your instructor first.

Always check important details

AI can help you prepare and get organised, but it should not make important decisions for you or for the person you care for.For medical, legal, benefits, housing, safeguarding, policing or crisis issues, speak to a trusted professional, adviser, support worker or emergency service where appropriate.

One assistant one job

Your assistant will work better if you give it one clear job to start with.For this page, the job is to help you think through your caring role and prepare for your BlueCap AI session. Do not try to make the same assistant do everything at once.Begin with something simple, such as making a checklist, preparing questions for an appointment, drafting a message, planning a routine, or organising what support you need.Think of your assistant like a helpful organiser. It can be useful, but it needs clear instructions and checking. If it is unclear how to help, it may guess and could be wrong.You do not need to get everything right before the session. This page is only to help you get started. In your BlueCap AI session, we will help you adjust your assistant around your caring role, confidence level, device, access needs and the kind of tasks you want to practise.

Set up ChatGPT for carer support

Before the workshop, you can set up a simple ChatGPT chat to help you think through your caring role, and prepare for the session.This is only a starter version. We will help you customise it safely in the session.

Step 1: Open the official ChatGPT app

Go to your phone, tablet or laptop’s app store.Search for: OpenAI ChatGPTCheck that the app is the official ChatGPT app from OpenAI before you download it.If you cannot find the app, open your web browser and search for ChatGPT.com

Step 2: Create or sign in to your account

Open ChatGPT and follow the steps on screen.You may need to create an account, sign in, or enter a code sent to your email.Do not share your password or sign-in code with anyone.

Step 3: Start a new chat

Once ChatGPT is open, start a new chat.This is where you will copy and paste the starter text we give you.The starter chats are specifically for preparing for a BlueCap AI workshop or session.

Step 4: How to use the Prompt Bank

At the bottom of this page, you will find a prompt bank.A prompt is a set of instructions you can copy and paste into ChatGPT that explain what you want to talk about first and what it should do.You can choose one starter prompt from the prompt bank below, based on the session you are attending.The starter prompt will ask you a few safe questions and create a simple summary you can bring to your BlueCap AI session.Please keep this interview chat separate. Do not use it for lots of other tasks.For now, use it only to prepare for your specific session, organise your thoughts and create your summary.Do Not use this setup for urgent problems, private documents or important decisions.Do Not share passwords, bank details, account details, NHS numbers, service numbers, reference numbers, addresses, legal papers, benefit letters, housing documents, private medical records or anything very personal.

Step 5: How to use the starter prompt

After you paste the starter prompt, answer the questions one at a time.Try to complete the interview before using the chat for anything else.At the end, the assistant should give you a simple summary of what you want to talk about, what feels difficult, what support you are looking for, and questions to bring to your BlueCap AI session.Bring this chat or summary to your session.We will use it to help personalise your assistant and make it safer, clearer and more useful.

Step 6: Practise in a separate chat

If you want to practise with more than the starter prompt before the session, that is great! We have a few for you to try below the starter prompt.Just start a new chat instead of using your interview chat. We want to keep that one short to help you in the live session.If you decide to practice before your session, always remember it is not finished yet, and you should not fully rely on it.In our session, we will use your interview chat to help build a safer, clearer assistant around your goals, confidence level, device, access needs and everyday situations.We are looking forward to seeing you at the session.