Views sought to help shape services and support for carers in Shropshire
Shropshire’s Health and Well-being Board are seeking the views of carers and anyone associated with unpaid care, to ensure that the services and the support they receive continue to meet their needs.
Following many conversations with carers over the years, the carers consultation launched today (Thursday 9 June 2016) by the board, will ask carers their views on the key priorities which carers have said that they want and need both locally and nationally. The six proposed priorities are:
- Carers are listened to, valued and respected
- Carers receive timely access to up to date information and advice which promote choice and good decision-making
- Carers receive support to enable them to have time for themselves
- Carers are supported to remain emotionally, mentally and physically well
- Carers are supported in planning for the future
- Carers are able to fulfil their educational, training or employment potential.
A carer is someone who provides support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This could be a parent caring for their child, caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems.
The consultation forms part of the Health and Well-being Board’s Carers ‘Exemplar’ work with the Shropshire Family Carers Partnership Board, which includes representatives from carers, statutory services, the voluntary and community sector and health.
Karen Calder, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health and well-being, and Chair of Shropshire’s Health and Well-being Board, said:
“Shropshire’s Health and Well-being Board is committed to raising awareness and standards for carers. Despite saving money for the local economy, caring still comes with a high personal cost for many carers, seeing their own personal health and well-being suffer, and financial hardship. We want people to tell us if they agree with the priorities put forward.
“If your time is dedicated to looking after someone, then please take part in this consultation and tell us your views on these priorities.”
Lee Chapman, Chair of the Family Carers Partnership Board, and Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adults, said:
“We all need to work together, as individuals, in our families and as part of our communities, to look after our health and well-being and support those around us.
“Carers are essential, providing invaluable assistance to family members and friends to remain well and independent for longer. As part of the consultation, we would like carers to consider the six proposed priorities and what they might mean to them.
“We want to work with local strategic partners, carers and the community to draw together key programmes for carers to ensure that they receive appropriate levels of support that is easy to access, and integrated. The feedback from carers will help us to shape any future changes, ensuring that any services we provide in the future continues to meet carers’ needs.
“This local consultation also complements the national carers’ survey currently being undertaken to seek out what more can be done to support carers across the UK.”
For more information and to take part in the survey go to ‘Get involved’ on the Shropshire Council website and search for ‘Draft carers strategy for Shropshire’ or simply click here. The survey should take approximately 10–15 minutes to complete online, depending how much detail you provide.
Alternatively you can complete a paper version of the survey, please email shropshiretogether@shropshire.gov.uk or telephone Sally Wagg on 01743 253972 for your copy.
The deadline for feedback is Friday 29 July 2016.
If you would like more information you can contact Carers Trust 4all on 01743 341995 or more information can be found on their website http://www.carerstrust4all.org.uk/ and the carers uk website http://www.carersuk.org/
