Council ensures more recognition and support for Shropshire’s unsung heroes
Did you know over 30,000 carers and 800 young carers in Shropshire each provide up to 50 hours of substantial care for their loved ones every week?
With national figures showing the incredible contribution that family carers make, saving the nation over £87.5 billion per year, Shropshire Council recognises that these unsung heroes have an invaluable role in our local communities.
That is why it is vital for the council and its partners to continue to, and build on existing, support for family carers and their loved ones to sustain that important contribution.
Following months of extensive consultation with family carers across the county, Shropshire Council has listened closely to how they want to be supported and what they want to improve the quality of their lives.
As a result of this, a new innovative and refreshed strategy for family carers in Shropshire will be presented to Cabinet on Wednesday 11 May 2011 which places family carers at the heart of reshaping their support.
The report outlines a number of ways that carers themselves said would improve their lives such as:
- raising awareness and profile of family carers
- ensuring family carers are recognised and valued
- creating better access to relevant and co-ordinated information
- financial support, training and employment.
The revised strategy also addresses the issues faced by family carers, such as isolation and feeling unsupported, and boldly outlines key themes that carers suggested, to help us identify ‘hidden’ carers and ensure family carers continue to feel valued and lead full and rewarding lives.
Councillor Simon Jones, Cabinet member for adult social care, said:
“Family carers need our support, because they provide the bulk of care in our community. If it wasn’t for Shropshire’s unpaid carers, we simply couldn’t provide the necessary level on care in supporting our most vulnerable residents. This is why it is vital to invest in and support family carers and their loved ones, to sustain that important contribution.
“As there are many people who may not see themselves as carers, Shropshires figure is almost certainly higher. One of the most important things we need to achieve is actually getting people to recognise they are carers. Once we’ve done that we can really help them to cope with the things they’re dealing with on a daily basis and put them back in control.”
Councillor Aggie Caesar-Homden, Cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said:
“Young carers are asked to take on a huge level of responsibility at a young age. This is why identifying and supporting young carers is critical to continue to support them to ensure they receive the recognition they deserve, and that they have the right to the best available health, education and opportunities to respond to their needs.”
Family carers in Shropshire already benefit from several significant developments identified in the strategy; these include:
- Over 350 family carers have received the ‘Carers one-off Direct Payment’ to help purchase services to support their needs.
- Over 230 familiy carers have now registered on the Emergency Carers Respite service. The scheme is designed to provide support for the cared person within their own home in the event of an unforeseen emergency.
- The very popular leisure vouchers scheme has helped 380 family carers to access a variety of council services such as theatre venues, museums, adult education centres and sports and leisure facilities.
Another major breakthrough in raising the profile and enhancing services for family carers has been the development of the Family Carers Partnership Board. This has brought together family carers and people from the public, private, community and voluntary sectors to create and develop support.
For more information on the Carers Strategy and support and advice for carers across Shropshire, call Shropshire Council on 0345 678 9005.
