Carers Strategy

1. Carers Strategy Joint initiative with Caerphilly CBC and will soon be subject to a consultation process prior to formal approval

2. Definition of a Carer A Carer is an individual who unpaid, provides support on a regular basis, which impacts on their normal life and without the support the person being ‘cared for’ would not be able to cope alone because they are frail, elderly, have a disability, mental health or substance misuse needs.

3. Carer statistics • 350,000+ family carers in Wales providing £7.7 billion of care each year • 90,000 carers in Wales care for more than 50 hours a week • 3 out of 5 people will care at some time in their lives • Over a lifetime 7 out of 10 women and nearly 6 out of 10 men will be carers • By 2032 there could be 9.1 million carers • The chances of a 30 to 54 year old becoming a carer will increase by 88%

4. Estimated Carer Population in BG 2001 Census Number provide 1 No provide 20 to No providing Total no % of to 19 hours of care: 49 hrs of care: 50 hrs or more: of carers population 4,754 1,352 2,627 8,733 13% Predicted change Number of carers in 2001: Number of carers 2011: % increase from 2011 8,733 8,995 8%

5. Barriers to supporting carers? • Failing to identify them. • Conflict between meeting the needs of the carer and the cared for person. • Lack of knowledge about rights and services. • Lack of resources • Organisations failing to talk to one another and carers being given the ‘run around’.

6. Impact of being an unpaid carer • Social exclusion is a reality for many Carers. Carers often find themselves outside the mainstream of society, simply because of their caring role. • Self-neglect • Physical ill-health such as back problems • Lack of sleep • Lack of confidence • Worry and anxiety • Mental ill-health such as depression • Loss of income

7. Purpose of a ‘Carers Assessment’ Carers who provide or intend to provide, regular and substantial care are entitled to a ‘Carers Assessment’ exploring: • the level of care the carer is able to provide • the sustainability of the caring situation • the carer’s health, and • their personal circumstances and individual abilities and needs Where appropriate, carers should be involved in the assessment, care planning and review of the person they care for. There is a right, but not a duty to provide carer services, but if the situation is critical, the local authority has a responsibility to act by providing either services to the carer or the ‘cared for’ person.

8. Overall purpose of the strategy Focus on: • those issues that mean the most to carers; • those issues that when tackled will make the biggest difference; By doing this we will: • move towards supporting carers to have better outcomes; • wherever possible, provide services that will be responsive to individual need and circumstances; Which we anticipate will • lead to an improved quality of life.

9. Focusing on the strategy intentions • Identify those who are providing significant amounts of care • Listen to their worries and concerns • Focus on enabling carers to continue to participate in those activities that are important to them – a life outside caring • Make carers aware of their rights • Involve carers in decisions, taking account of their needs and providing them with choices • Provide carers with information about the person they care for - the medical condition and treatment • Offer services to ease the caring demands • Sign-post them to organisations who can support

10. Our “KEY” principles (RESPECT) • Recognise carers • Empower carers • Support carers • Promote carers • Engage with carers • Consider the views of carers • Take time to listen to carers “Carers will receive the information, services, support and recognition needed to carry out their caring role and remain living as full a life as possible within their community.”

11. Implementing the strategy All partners will work together to achieve the following outcomes: • carers will be respected as care partners and will have access to the services they need to support them in their caring role; • carers will be able to have a life of their own alongside their caring role; • carers will be supported so that they are not forced into financial hardship by their caring role; • carers health and well-being will be promoted to assist them to stay mentally and physically well and their dignity respected; • children and young people will be protected from inappropriate caring and have the support they need to learn, develop and thrive, to enjoy positive childhoods and to optimise their abilities.

12. Monitoring and measurement The strategy will consider whether: • There has been a common concern for the well being of the person being ‘cared for’ from all agencies involved with the individual/family • Carers have been supported, should they choose, to access short breaks from the caring role • Carers have had a degree of freedom to have a life outside their caring role • Maintaining the carer’s health has been considered, promoted and acted upon • Carers and the person being cared for have confidence in the services provided • Carers have been listened to and had a say in service provision.

13. Carer satisfaction (measures) Carer satisfaction with support/ services to include: • % of carers that report they are valued as a partner in care • % of carers that are satisfied with service provisions Timeliness of support (referral/assessment /support) • % of carers who have been offered an assessment Units/type of service provided • % of carers accessing services following an assessment Information provided • % of carers that receive appropriate information • % of carers accessing training Range of services/options available • % of carers that are referred to services in a timely manner

14. Thank you for listening