Carers as partners

Carers are the main providers of care. In Northern Ireland alone they save the Government £1.9 billion per year - the equivalent of a second NHS. Yet, when carers need to call on professional help and support, frequently it is not adequate. Carers tell us that all too often they have to battle for even the minimum of help. They also tell us that their knowledge and expertise is too often ignored by professionals, leaving carers feeling undervalued and left out of critical decisions. 

What should happen?

Right from the start, when a carer decides to take on a caring responsibility, or realises that they could do with some help, services should be there to support the carer and the person they care for.  These services need to be shaped around the lives of the person requiring care and their carer - flexible enough to enable the carer to work, have a break when they need it, maintain family relationships and stay safe and healthy. In short, they should enable carers to have the same choices as other members of society.

The reality.

The reality for many carers is vastly different.  Many carers are not in the social care system, unaware of what help is available.  Carers UK found that a third of carers look after someone who has not had a community care assessment.  Almost two thirds of these carers reported that they do not get the help they need.

Carers have a right to have their needs assessed by social services, but only a third of carers have been assessed. Even when they are in the system, carers struggle to get the help they need because

• they are not told about their rights.
• the right type of service is not available.
• poor quality services mean carers and the people they care for do not want to use them.
• good services are oversubscribed with lengthy waiting lists.
• services are not available at weekends, holdiays and out of hours.
• carers cannot afford the charges for services.

Making progress.

Carers UK has

• spearheaded new legislation - the Carers Equal Opportunities Act - which will improve carers' right to an assessment and lead to more opportunities for carers.
• ensured that carers are at the heart of government guidelines for when patients come out of hospital.
• trained over 2,000 thousand professionals. Carers UK is the leading provider of training to health and social care professionals, ensuring they have the knowledge and skills to make a difference to carers' lives.
• worked with local authorities, the health service and other providers to improve their understanding of the role of carers and change their policies and practice. 

Carers Northern Ireland is calling for...

• all carers to be informed of their right to a carer's assessment.
• substantial increase in investment in quality social care services which deliver dignity and independence.
• increase the range and flexibility of services and offer carers the choice of direct payments, vouchers and services.
• abolish charging for community care services.