Staffordshire county council’s cabinet agreed to remodel services that support carers so that they will get easier access to advice and guidance.
The county council has made the decision, subject to call-in, after getting the thoughts of hundreds of carers on how well the current services operate. This will include ensuring information, advice and guidance about where to find support is easily accessible, providing a clear point of contact so carers don’t have to keep repeating their story, and making sure they can have a break from their caring to explore their own hobbies and interests.
County Councillor Alan White, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing said: “Around the county, thousands of people are providing unpaid care for their loved ones. For most carers, this experience is rewarding, however the responsibility for providing care can have a wide-ranging health, wellbeing and economic impact.
By ensuring carers are able to access information, advice and guidance on the support available to them, we can ensure they can continue to care for their loved ones, while also taking care of themselves and their own wellbeing.”
It is estimated that there are 148,000 adult carers and 1,950 young carers in Staffordshire. Officers have been engaging with them for number of months on what their priorities are, and what they would like to see from a remodelled service. Their responses, coupled with the priorities set out in a new All Age Carer’s Strategy, have all been considered when designing the new service.
County Councillor Mark Sutton, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said: “Carers make a tremendous contribution to their families, communities, workplace and society. But young carers can find it difficult to know where to go for help and support. We want to make sure that young carers can get the support they need, are able to meet and socialise with other young people in the same situation as them and, most importantly, are able take a break from their caring role.
With our proposed future model of services for carers, we hope to ensure all carers can access the support they need, when they need it, to continue their caring role.”
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