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Topic title | Carers (2014) |
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Topic owner | Integrated Commissioning Group Older People |
Topic author(s) | Penny Spice and Vicky Myers |
Topic quality reviewed | 11.6.2014 |
Topic approved by | HWIG 17th September 2014 |
Current version | 17th September 2014 |
Linked JSNA topics |
The 2011 Census shows there are approximately 5.8 million people providing unpaid care in England and Wales, representing just over one tenth of the population. The figure has grown by 600,000 since 2001. The largest growth was in those people who provide fifty or more hours unpaid care per week (the highest category of unpaid care analysed).
‘Carers at the heart of 21st Century Families and Communities’, Department of Health, 2008
The revised National Carers Strategy (2010) sets out priorities for carers and identifies the actions required to ensure the best possible outcomes for carers and those they support, including:-
“Our NHS care objectives: a draft mandate to the NHS Commissioning Board”, Department of Health, 2012
This document highlights carers, focusing on early identification of carers, positive experience of caring, working collaboratively, enhancing quality of life for carers of people with long term conditions, improved co-ordination, opportunities, information and support to take an active role in decisions about care and treatment, etc.
Care Act, 2014
The Care Act provides an ideal opportunity to capitalise on the new focus on the importance of working more closely with carers and the responsibility placed on Local Authorities to undertake a Carer’s Assessment. In addition, the Care Act emphasises:
This Act creates a single duty to undertake a “carer assessment”. The aim of the assessment is to determine whether the carer has support needs and what those needs may be. A “carer” is defined as any adult who is caring, or intends to care, for another adult. This duty replaces existing duties previously described in the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995 and section 1 of the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000. However, the new duty does not require (as the previous provision did) that the carer must be providing “substantial care on a regular basis”.
This opens up a new opportunity to provide much needed support to people providing lower levels of support.
1. Accessing Information by carers. Commissioners need to
2. Investigation into the specific needs of carers in different situations; e.g. parent carers and sandwich carers.
3. Evaluate carers’ breaks and consider changes to the allocation of breaks.
Assess the impact of both the Care Act and ageing population on capacity of services for carers and associated costs.
Carers’ Implementation Group
Older People Integrated Commissioning Group
Younger Adults Integrated Commissioning Group
Leads within local authority and CCGs or LAT, with email addresses.
1. Nottinghamshire County Council: Penny Spice, penny.spice@nottscc.gov.uk
2. Clinical Commissioning Groups:
This is an online synopsis of the topic which shows the executive summary and key contacts sections. To view the full document, please download it.