Review of Support Provisions for Carers In Northern Ireland

The Review of Support Provision for Carers in Northern Ireland, promised in May 2008, has finally been published by Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie and the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Michael McGimpsey.  Its purpose was to examine  support for carers following the Review of the National Carers’ Strategy in Britain.  There are 15 recommendations; 4 for the Department for Social Development; 10 for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and one to be taken forward jointly.

Margaret Ritchie said: "There is an enormous contribution made by those who have the responsibility of caring for others and there is no doubt that it is of great value to the wider community as well as to the people for whom they are caring.  I intend to implement the recommendations from this Review and to give a high priority to carers’ issues...My Department will work with the Department for Work and Pensions to reform carers’ benefits.... In the meantime the Social Security Agency will continue to promote benefit uptake to ensure that carers in Northern Ireland are receiving the full financial assistance to which they are entitled."

Michael McGimpsey said: "It was evident during the course of this Review that there are a large number of carers in Northern Ireland who willingly make an invaluable contribution in caring for family members or friends.  There is evidence of a committed and caring health and social care workforce, and many examples of good practice have emerged, however there is still progress to be made. More work needs to be done to ensure that policy, guidance and standards are implemented effectively and on a consistent basis. I hope that this Review will reinvigorate the planning and provision of support services for carers. My Department will take forward the recommendations which have resulted from this review to ensure that carers in Northern Ireland receive the highest quality support services which they undoubtedly deserve."

In response, Helen Ferguson, Director of Carers Northern Ireland, commented "We welcome the increased focus on carers that this report will bring to the work of both social security and health and social care.  We had hoped that the review might unlock more money for carers services, and it now looks like this is going to have to wait until at least the next CSR funding round. 

"However, we look forward to an uptake campaign that will make sure that fewer carers miss out on benefits, and particularly to carers getting better back up from Trusts in an emergency situation."

The report is available on the DSD and DHSSPS websites at the following web addresses:
- www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/ssa/ssani-publications/ssani-reports-plans.htm
- www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/hss/ec-community-care/ec-carers.htm