Carers

Who is a Carer? A carer can be defined as someone who spends a significant proportion of their life providing unpaid support to family or potentially friends. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems. Source: Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities: a caring system on your side, a life of your own. (Department of Health, June 2008).

Estimated number of unpaid Carers in 2008 LA Name Provides no care Provides 1 to 19 hours care a week Provides 20 to 49 hours care a week Provides 50 or more hours care a week Total providing unpaid care Amber Valley107,29110,0301,6162,86414,509 Bolsover65,3285,7051,2592,6099,572 Chesterfield88,7998,3881,4082,80512,601 Derbyshire Dales61,7206, ,2498,380 Erewash98,8168,4641,2282,39212,084 High Peak83,1617, ,77910,239 North East Derbyshire85,3608,7561,4972,58712,840 South Derbyshire82,6917,5481,0911,97010,609 Derbyshire673,11762,8529,76018,27190,834

Time spend in provision of care Bolsover and Chesterfield have a higher proportion of carers caring for over 50 hours. By contrast, High Peak and Derbyshire Dales have a higher proportion of carers caring for 1-19 hours.

Carer’s Allowance For entitlement of carer’s allowance, the carer needs to be caring for a person who is in receipt of attendance allowance or DLA middle or higher care for 35 plus hours a week; and not be earning more than £95pw in 2008/09

Uptake of Carer’s Allowance at August 2008 Of these carers: 65, 852 provide unpaid care for 1-19 hours per week 33,651 provide care for hours per week and so may be entitled to a carers break. 18, 271 provide more than 50 hours unpaid care a week and may be entitled to a carer’s allowance. However, only around 6,250 claimants of carer’s allowance were recorded.

Uptake of Carer’s Allowance by LA Chesterfield and Bolsover have the highest number of claimants (only payable if caring for 35+ hours) and Derbyshire Dales the lowest.

Provision of unpaid care by age group 2962 (3.4%) young people under the age of 20 years old; 9828 (11.4%)people aged 20 – 34 ; 50,548 (58.6%) people aged between the ages of 35 – ,989 (26.6%) people aged 60 and older.

Local needs of Carers The CHART LSP held a carers event in A summary of the findings are as follows: Young carers need an increase in social support and leisure opportunities, and awareness should be raised amongst professionals who work with young people. Professionals working with carers need more benefits and welfare advice training, as finance for carers is an important issue. There was support for a central information point for adult carers, many identified the GP or library as a point to access information; and for support and more activities during carer’s week to raise general awareness.

Local needs of Carers cont. During carers’ week 2009, carers across Derbyshire were asked what 5 things would make the biggest difference to YOU as a CARER. The priorities emerged as the following: Emergency Carer Card and details how to acquire one. More access to respite. Personal Care Plan taken more notice of. Sitting Service. More information, advice and support. Someone to listen who understands. Carer allowance for over 60s. Financial Support. Training.

What are we doing? There is a Draft Joint Carers Strategy for Derbyshire which will be available for consultation in late 2009; the consultation should be wide ranging and include many carers from different areas, cultures, ages and gender, as well as health and social care professionals and voluntary organisations. (need updating?) Part of this years funding will support a pilot in Bolsover and Amber Valley for people supporting those with either dementia or end of life needs who are providing over 50 hours of care a week. It will offer home based night support to enable carers to have a goods night sleep Action planning for change Other projects that are taking place include: North East Derbyshire Dementia Project; and Night Time Care in Glossop.

Action planning for change Mapping our current resources and an audit of a carer’s pathway. Development of GP Protocols Identification of carers, carer’s assessments and data collection substantially improved. Transition of carers from children’s to adult services. Training programmes for carers. Workforce development for professionals working with carers. Carers leaflet and information packs. Short Breaks.