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Who is a Carer? A carer can be defined as someone who spends a significant proportion of their life providing unpaid support to family or potentially friends. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems. Source:Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities: a caring system on your side, a life of your own. (Department of Health, June 2008).
Time spend in provision of care • Bolsover and Chesterfield have a higher proportion of carers caring for over 50 hours. • By contrast, High Peak and Derbyshire Dales have a higher proportion of carers caring for 1-19 hours.
Carer’s Allowance • For entitlement of carer’s allowance, the carer needs to be caring for a person who is in receipt of attendance allowance or DLA middle or higher care for 35 plus hours a week; and not be earning more than £95pw in 2008/09
Uptake of Carer’s Allowance at August 2008 Of these carers: • 65, 852 provide unpaid care for 1-19 hours per week • 33,651 provide care for 20 - 49 hours per week and so may be entitled to a carers break. • 18, 271 provide more than 50 hours unpaid care a week and may be entitled to a carer’s allowance. • However, only around 6,250 claimants of carer’s allowance were recorded.
Uptake of Carer’s Allowance by LA • Chesterfield and Bolsover have the highest number of claimants (only payable if caring for 35+ hours) and Derbyshire Dales the lowest.
Provision of unpaid care by age group • 2962 (3.4%) young people under the age of 20 years old; • 9828 (11.4%)people aged 20 – 34 ; • 50,548 (58.6%) people aged between the ages of 35 – 60. • 22,989 (26.6%) people aged 60 and older.
Local needs of Carers The CHART LSP held a carers event in 2008. A summary of the findings are as follows: • Young carers need an increase in social support and leisure opportunities, and awareness should be raised amongst professionals who work with young people. • Professionals working with carers need more benefits and welfare advice training, as finance for carers is an important issue. • There was support for a central information point for adult carers, many identified the GP or library as a point to access information; and for support and more activities during carer’s week to raise general awareness.
Local needs of Carers cont. During carers’ week 2009, carers across Derbyshire were asked what 5 things would make the biggest difference to YOU as a CARER. The priorities emerged as the following: • Emergency Carer Card and details how to acquire one. • More access to respite. • Personal Care Plan taken more notice of. • Sitting Service. • More information, advice and support. • Someone to listen who understands. • Carer allowance for over 60s. • Financial Support. • Training.
What are we doing? • There is a Draft Joint Carers Strategy for Derbyshire which will be available for consultation in late 2009; the consultation should be wide ranging and include many carers from different areas, cultures, ages and gender, as well as health and social care professionals and voluntary organisations. (need updating?) • Part of this years funding will support a pilot in Bolsover and Amber Valley for people supporting those with either dementia or end of life needs who are providing over 50 hours of care a week. It will offer home based night support to enable carers to have a goods night sleep Action planning for change • Other projects that are taking place include: North East Derbyshire Dementia Project; and Night Time Care in Glossop.
Action planning for change • Mapping our current resources and an audit of a carer’s pathway. • Development of GP Protocols • Identification of carers, carer’s assessments and data collection substantially improved. • Transition of carers from children’s to adult services. • Training programmes for carers. • Workforce development for professionals working with carers. • Carers leaflet and information packs. • Short Breaks.
