Foreword
Welcome to this month's issue of the Jip e-bulletin.
No matter what the future brings, people will keep on giving vast amounts of time and energy to care for a loved one in need.
And no matter how much local authorities and PCTs have to spend on carers, it will always be an investment worth making. Carers tend to do as much as they can, as well as they can, they deserve our support to do what they usually see as their duty.
The Department of Health led National Carer Strategy of 2008, responds to a range of carers concerns. Alongside the Strategy a Standing Commission for Carers was set up to inform, support and if necessary challenge the implementation of the strategy. Together, the Standing Commission and the strategy have helped ensure this policy is genuinely led by what carers say.
Regionally the Carer Strategy supports local authorities in their ambition to do the same. Carer lead officers are now found in all West Midlands councils, working across departmental boundaries and with health, Job Centre Plus and other partners, to seek a joined up approach to carers' needs.
The voluntary sector has often led the way on carers; but in order to blend carers into the complex world of personalisation, voluntary sector partners need to be kept up to date about policy and practice as they evolve.
Likewise, health partners are increasingly clear about the importance of carers, both through their Clinical Review Groups, and strategically. Strengthening relationships across social care, health and the voluntary sector makes sense to carers and to agencies as we pursue increased efficiency and better services.
But many challenges remain. Personalisation of social services means we are in danger of talking to carers as if they are part of the care package and not part of the family. Whether we're talking to carers, to our own services, to voluntary sector allies or to health colleagues, social care values remain a strong anchor through times of change.
This month's bulletin gives an overview of what some councils in the region are doing to support and include carers as equal partners in the provision of social care.
Simon Foster
Programme Lead, Carers and LINks
Department of Health West Midlands
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