Carers Rights Workshop

Welcome

Nicola Hartley

Development ManagerMidlands & East of England

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers

• 144 centres /services across the UK varying in size from 4 staff to over 100.

• 89 young carers services• www.carers.org• www.youngcarers.net• 424,000 carers• 25,000 young carers

The Network of Support

• Finding hidden carers• Providing the right information• Ensuring carer’s voice are heard• Emotional support• Making caring a positive experience• Building strategic partnerships locally• Influencing policy to improve services to carers

What we do

Our visionCarers are recognised, valued and able to

maximise their quality of life.Our mission

To meet the diverse needs of carers through excellent local and national services.

• To ensure that carers are able to influence decisions which affect their lives.

• To work effectively with Carers' Centres and other partners to develop, promote and deliver high quality services for carers.

• To raise awareness of carers and the contribution they make to society.

• To secure the sustainability of The Trust and to effectively manage its resources and support to the network

Our strategic aims

Who is a Carer?

• without payment • provides help and support • partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour• That person could not manage without

help.• Age, illness, disability, addiction

Caring: The Facts

• 6 million+ carers in the UK – 1 in 10 of the population• 175,000 under 18yrs • 1.5 million provide care for over 50 hours per week• 18% of carers look after more than one person• Each year 2.3 million people become carers• Carers save the government an estimated £119bn p/a

Real Change not Short ChangeCarers UK 2007

• 72% of carers worse of as result of caring• 54% had to give up work• 53% said financial concerns causing stress• 33% in debt

NHS survey of carers

•1/2 of carers in England experience health problems•1/3 of 5 million carers in England feel stressed•1/4 have disturbed sleep. •1/3 are left tired from caring. •3/5 anticipate the amount of time they spend caring will increase in the next five years. •11% of carers receive Carer’s Allowance

Carers’ Rights

• Right to request a carers assessment• Right to request flexible working• Carers allowance• Emotional & Practical Support

Carers Assessments• Carers and Disabled Children’s Act 2000• Right to request CA whether or not the cared for person is

being assessed• Allows services to be provided directly to carers

Carers’ Assessment

• Carers Equal Opportunities Act 2004• Duty of social services to inform the carer of their right to

a carers assessment• Someone providing or intending to provide regular /

substantial care• It is the carers choice whether to have the assessment• Ability to provide & continue to provide care• Employment, leisure & training opportunities

What is a Carers Assessment?

• opportunity to tell social services about your caring role

• Are you able to get time for yourself?• Do you get out and about?• the affect caring is having on your health, • how it's affecting your relationships with others, • Work & leisure opportunities

Flexible Working

Support for YOU• Contact your local Carers Centre• One to one support• Practical support• Emotional support• Social groups • Activities

Carers Centre map screen shot

Carers Online

• Chat rooms to connect with other carers• Discussions• Access to information, advice & support• 24 hours, 7 days• consultation

Screen shot - website

Facebook screen shot

Twitter screen shot