Priority 4: We will support more professional education across settings (schools, social care, health, employers) for young carers, young adult carers and adult carers (including parent carers).
What issue is this priority addressing?
According to the 2011 census approximately 21,000 people in Warrington will be undertaking an unpaid caring role. Services in Warrington are in contact with less than 3000 carers in total at any one time. This means that lots of carers are providing their support without the recognition and help of services (they are known as ‘hidden carers’). Not all carers need or want services to support them, but recognising when a carer is under stress, or might benefit from some support, can provide a lifeline for some.
According to a Carers UK survey, 24% of carers who responded took over five years to identify as a carer, and 9% took over 10 years. The longer it takes to recognise a carer, the more likely it is that carers will struggle in the absence of support that could help.
91% of carers surveyed told Carers UK that they missed out on financial or practical support (or both) as a result of not identifying as a carer. 50% said that missing out on support had an impact on their physical health. 78% suffered from stress and anxiety as a result of missing out on support, 61% said missing out on support put a strain on their relationships with friends and family, and 52% said missing out on support impacted negatively on their finances. 42% also said missing out on support had caused them to give up work to care.
Increased professional education for all stakeholders, combined with better access to informal ways of helping carers (e.g. peer support) could improve carer recognition and increase early intervention to reduce stresses created by feeling invisible and/or unsupported.
How will this priority be delivered?
- We will develop an education and training plan (to help with carer recognition) with the Board and with stakeholders.
- We will support education and training sessions to be delivered within identified organisations.
- Employers who champion carers issues will be identified so that we can share good practice.
- Health, social care and schools will produce plans and priorities for identifying and supporting young carers and adult carers (e.g as part of induction, mandatory training, safeguarding, HR support etc).
- We will help our carers with access to proactive phone support, virtual support and peer support to be available for all newly identified young carers, young adult and adult carers.
What are the potential measures of success?
- Increased engagement of schools, health, social care, and employers
- Increased numbers of newly identified young and adult carers
- Positive feedback from carers about recognition and early offers of support.