Council launches a Carers Survey to review its offer to carers

Shropshire Council are reviewing their offer to carers in Shropshire and would like carers to be involved from the beginning of the process to help shape the services offered throughout the whole county for carers of all ages.

If you look after someone who could not manage without your support, please complete this survey and tell us what matters to you.

Adult social care

All questions have been based on the All Age Carers Strategy five priorities, which have been identified through consultation and surveys with carers, local and national best practice and a local multi-agency working group. These priorities focus around the overarching aim, which is:

“Carers are supported to remain emotionally, mentally and physically well and feeling safe”

The five priorities of the All Age Carers Strategy are:

1. Carers are listened to, valued and respected
2. Carers are enabled to have time for themselves
3. Carers can access timely, up to date information and advice
4. Carers are enabled to plan for the future
5. Carers are able to fulfil their educational, training or employment potential.

The survey can be found on the Shropshire Council homepage or please follow this link https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SCCarersSurvey2019 to complete the survey.

Dean Carroll, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care and climate change, said:-

“As the new Chair of the Family Carer Partnership Board, I would encourage carers of all ages to take part in this survey, and tell us what you feel is important”.

For more information, or if you would like more involvement please contact Margarete Davies, carers and engagement lead, on 01743 255776 or margarete.davies@shropshire.gov.uk

Further information 

Any carer or person who feels they may be fulfilling a carer role can contact Carers Trust 4 all direct for information about their services on:

• Carers Support helpline during office hours: 01743 341995.
• All Carer emergency calls: 0333 323 1990 number option 1 and then option 6.

or

• by phoning the First Point of Contact, Shropshire Council on: 0345 678 9044.

 Facts and statistics 

• The 2011 census shows us that there are around 34,000 known carers in Shropshire. This number does not account for people who do not identify as carers – ‘hidden’ carers, and young carers from 5 up to 18 years of age.

• Shropshire’s population is ageing. In 2001, the 65 years and older population represented 18.1% of the total Shropshire population. This has now risen to 20.7% in 2011, compared to 16.4% for England and Wales. This is likely to impact on increased need for care and thus carers.

• There is a dispersed population of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Shropshire. There are approximately 5,000 children and young people who are under the age of 18 and have some level of additional need. 1,600 of these young people have been identified has having a significant level of special educational need and as such are likely to be receiving a high level of support from family carers.

• There are more than 600 known young carers in Shropshire. It should be recognised that young carers are children and young people first, and with help and support a balance between their caring responsibility and being a child or young person can be achieved. It is known that many struggle with educational attainment because of the additional burden of caring.