Demonstrating care for carers

Warwickshire County is one of the demonstrator sites where new approaches to supporting carers are being tried out as part of the implementation of the carers strategy.

The sites have been set up to:

• find more effective and cost-effective ways of delivering breaks to carers


• establish health and well-being checks for carers


• identify better ways for the NHS to support carers

Warwickshire County Council was selected in October 2008 as one of 12 councils nationally to demonstrate the Breaks for Carers programme. The council currently provides:

• residential weekend holidays and short breaks for the person being cared for


• sitting services by qualified care staff


• day care


• one off payments that carers can use on their choice of support
  home based breaks for up to 72 hours

• a Carers Emergency Plan, giving carers the opportunity to make alternative care arrangements in the event of them being temporarily unable to provide care, for example, because of illness or hospital admission.

The council is also developing an online booking system for carers wanting a break.

A national team from Leeds University will carry out evaluation of the demonstrator sites over two years.

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