For care services
Many of the people who receive support from a care service or care provider also rely on an unpaid carer for support. Care and support providers are ideally placed to connect carers to support.
Care services can give carers the peace of mind to be able to take breaks from care, as well as providing support in managing care.
Unpaid carers have played a vital role in supporting care services to manage during the COVID-19 pandemic. With many carers still taking on additional hours of care, and often not having had access to their usual support. It is vital that unpaid carers are recognised and connected to advice and information about caring and ways of looking after themselves too.
Care and support providers
Care and support services can give carers the peace of mind they need to take breaks from caring. They are often at the heart of carers' lives and ideally placed to connect them with support and advice. There are many simple actions that care and support providers can take to support carers:
- Actively welcome feedback and input from family members and involve them in decisions about the care package and support provided to the person needing care.
- Promote a Carer's Assessment to anyone caring unpaid for the person they support.
- Signpost advice, information and support services to carers.
- Recognise that some of your staff will have unpaid caring responsibilities of their own.
- As an employer, there are many simple things you can do. Just talking about caring makes a difference, as does promoting flexible working. Visit our page for employers
Commissioners and local authorities
Commissioners have duties to support carers under the Care Act 2014 and Children and Families Act 2014 (England), the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act (April 2016) and the Carers (Scotland) Act.
There are simple actions that local authorities and commissioners can take to support carers:
- Offer ongoing support to people who have recently identified as carers during the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccination programme, working closely with GP practices in your area.
- Connect with community organisations to reach out and help carers access different preventative services.
- Share information during Carers Week, helping to connect families with available support services.
- As an employer, there are many simple things you can do. Just talking about caring makes a difference, as does promoting flexible working. Visit our page for employers
- Join the Employers for Carers employers' forum and raise awareness of caring throughout your organisation. Visit the Employers for Carers website