Timely Information to Citizens Information for Carers Project Dr Mirjam Southwell Dr Will Thomas University Campus Suffolk

Department of Communities and Local Government funding to Suffolk County Council Project delivered by the Centre for Applied Research at UCS

2008 APHR Identified a number of groups that have relatively poor health “Users sometimes had limited knowledge of their rights to services and how to access them appropriately”

“Family Carers” “A family carer can be defined as a person who provides unpaid care, whether for an elderly relative, a spouse, a child with additional needs or a parent”

In 2000, 1 in 6 people was a family carer 1 in 5 households contained a family carer APHR estimates 98,000 family carers in Suffolk

Health Implications Over a third of family carers report that caring makes them worried, depressed or tired Three in four family carers consult their GP each year about their physical health

It would cost Suffolk £39m if family carers were publically funded 82% of young carers have not been formally assessed for their needs as carers

APHR Conclusions Need for a multi-agency approach to addressing needs of family carers Work together with the voluntary sector Work to maintain employment and training rights for family carers

Suffolk Projects Suffolk Short Breaks for Carers Pilot – “Time for You” Carers Information Strategy Other smaller projects run by Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Family Carers

Timely Information to Citizens Financed by DCLG Innovative projects to provide better local information to citizens Successful projects will act as exemplars Feed into a good practice toolkit

Research Brief  What? Contribute to improving information channels for family carers in Suffolk Identify inadequacies in current information delivery methods

Research Brief  Why? To enable family carers in Suffolk to access information, advice and guidance by providing timely information

Research Brief  How? 1.Inquiry –literature review and interviews with stakeholders 2.Development workshops – results of inquiry presented to expert family carer groups to brainstorm ideas to improve information channels

Stakeholders Health services Local Authorities Third Sector Family carers

Family Carers Rural Young people Older adults Male / female Black and Minority Ethnic Disabled

Centre for Applied Research Dr Mirjam Southwell Dr Will Thomas