Plans are in place to develop a carers’ centre of excellence in Stoke-on-Trent.
The council aims to provide support and services to carers under one roof, including short breaks, bed space, day relief and home based help. The development includes potential for working with the health sector, voluntary and other statutory organisations.
In separate initiatives, the authority has trained over 40 carers in managing challenging behaviour. The courses, funded by the Carers' Grant, are available to individuals caring for older people with dementia related illnesses.
Training gives carers greater understanding of the disease. It includes recognising early signs of dementia and the potential effects on family and friends.
The council also provides short term cover for carers who are facing an emergency and are unable to look after the person they care for.
Temporary cover is provided by a response team who will maintain telephone contact with the person cared for or supply a temporary sitter.
Emergency care is available for a maximum of 48 hours on weekdays, and up to 72 hours at weekends. Currently 150 carers are registered to use the service.
Thursday, 8 April 2010
Maximising benefits in Birmingham
A scheme set up to maximise carers’ income in Birmingham is expected to reach the £2 million mark within two years.
An income maximisation service has been commissioned by Birmingham City Council to increase income for carers. The aim is to improve their well being and living conditions.
It targets individuals who find it difficult to access money advice services, and have been:
An income maximisation service has been commissioned by Birmingham City Council to increase income for carers. The aim is to improve their well being and living conditions.
It targets individuals who find it difficult to access money advice services, and have been:
- referred by the council community care teams
- identified as under claimers by looking at the benefit service computer records
- referred by other agencies working on behalf of carers
Carers are approached with the offer of a home visit to assess their financial needs. A claim for relevant benefits is made on their behalf. Debt advice and representation to third parties is also available.
The scheme will run until April 2011. To date, 55% of cases have resulted in more money for carers. The service predicts an overall increase of up to £2 million by the time the scheme ends.
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:
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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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Facing the facts
The 2001 Census reports that there were 5.67 million carers in Great Britain.
Of these:
- 58% of carers were women
- 42% were men
- 68% of carers provided care for up to 19 hours a week, 11% for 20 to 49 hours and 21% for 50 or more hours
- Over 65s account for around a third of all carers providing more than 50 hours of care a week (taken from the government strategy Building a society for all ages) In the 45–59 age group16% of all men (over 900,000) and 23% of all women (over 1.3 million women) are carers (taken from Carers UK)
- Of the £255 million underpinning the national carers strategy, £150 million was allocated to planned short breaks for carers, up to £38 million towards supporting carers to enter or re-enter the job market; and £6 million towards improving support for young carers.
Building a better future for carers
The Standing Commission on Carers has made a number of recommendations in its first annual report to support implementation of the carers strategy.
Set up in 2007, the commission is an independent advisory body providing expert advice to ministers and the Carers Strategy Cross Government Programme Board, on progress in delivering the national carers strategy.
The report summarises progress to date against each of the main themes of the strategy, and highlights future challenges and opportunities. It also recommends actions and makes suggestions for the government, delivery partners and the next stage of the commission.
Recommendations for Primary Care Trusts and councils include:
- ensuring ongoing support and sustainable funding for local information services through their local strategic partnerships and local area agreements
- developing further capacity for providing training courses at a local level so carers can participate effectively in a wider range of activities, including inspection teams, Local Involvement Networks (LINks), local strategic partnerships and the development and review of local area agreements
- consideration by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and the Local Government Association, of how best to ensure transformation and partnership work are achieving the desired outcomes at local levels, and whether there are any resource issues
- that the NHS Care Records Service Programme Board explore if better use can be made of the carers’ information held on record, for example to improve information sharing about carers’ health.
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Profiling carers in the region
A profile of carers in the West Midlands, detailing who they are, their potential needs and the support services in their area, is available on the Department of Health website. Compiled by the University of Leeds, it provides health and local authorities with information needed to support implementation of the national carers’ strategy.
The profile shows:
· most local authorities in the region have developed carers' strategy steering groups
· all local authorities are concentrating on delivering carers’ breaks
· all have developed strategies for supporting young carers
· 55,200 people of working age have an entitlement to Carer’s Allowance (CA), and among them 49,590 receive this benefit.
Read more
The profile shows:
· most local authorities in the region have developed carers' strategy steering groups
· all local authorities are concentrating on delivering carers’ breaks
· all have developed strategies for supporting young carers
· 55,200 people of working age have an entitlement to Carer’s Allowance (CA), and among them 49,590 receive this benefit.
Read more
Putting carers at the heart of communities
The deadline for implementing the first phase of commitments outlined in the national strategy for carers is in 2011.
Published in 2008, the strategy – Carers at the Heart of the 21st Century Families and Communities, provides a framework for responding to the growing demands placed on carers and the care system.
It sets out a vision for elevating carers as equal partners in the provision of services, and provides a plan of action for health and social care providers to make this happen.
Currently one in 10 people in Britain is a carer: most are women, and 6,000 people take on new caring responsibilities each day.
With more people living longer, many are developing long term clinical conditions, and most want to maintain control over their lives and independence in their own homes; requiring greater support from carers.
An initial budget of £255 million has been allocated to implement the strategy, including £150 million for planned short breaks for carers, £38 million to help carers enter or re-enter the job market, and £6 million for improving support for young carers.
Commitments include:
· expanding NHS services to support carers
· improving emotional support
· ensuring young carers are protected from inappropriate caring
· training carers to strengthen their role
· training public sector professionals to provide better services and support
· ensuring third sector support is available to carers
· providing better information about carers.
Read more
Published in 2008, the strategy – Carers at the Heart of the 21st Century Families and Communities, provides a framework for responding to the growing demands placed on carers and the care system.
It sets out a vision for elevating carers as equal partners in the provision of services, and provides a plan of action for health and social care providers to make this happen.
Currently one in 10 people in Britain is a carer: most are women, and 6,000 people take on new caring responsibilities each day.
With more people living longer, many are developing long term clinical conditions, and most want to maintain control over their lives and independence in their own homes; requiring greater support from carers.
An initial budget of £255 million has been allocated to implement the strategy, including £150 million for planned short breaks for carers, £38 million to help carers enter or re-enter the job market, and £6 million for improving support for young carers.
Commitments include:
· expanding NHS services to support carers
· improving emotional support
· ensuring young carers are protected from inappropriate caring
· training carers to strengthen their role
· training public sector professionals to provide better services and support
· ensuring third sector support is available to carers
· providing better information about carers.
Read more
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