Survey of Unpaid Carers 2024

Recommendations

The findings from the survey have highlighted that there are some specific actions we need to take.

These are:

Develop a bespoke communications campaign using personas so that carers can identify themselves and connect with information and support.
Raise the awareness of the health and wellbeing benefits of a statutory carers assessment.
Ensure practitioners can describe the benefits of a statutory carers assessment.
Promote and encourage practitioners in health and social care to take up the 'Think Carer' training offer through the A Better U training programme. Consider making this mandatory in social care.
Further work with partners, using the wider opportunities they offer, to provide targeted information and advice at key points when people come into contact with health care, social care and other local services.
Carry out awareness raising campaigns to reach diverse carers with the right information sooner, so that they know what is available in their area to support them.

Ensure young adult carers are supported with the right information and advice as they transition to adults.
The transition assessment will explore what matters to them. For example:
- improving their wellbeing
- building careers and social networks
- training
- support to build on their life skills, including money management or preparing for a job interview

Ensure carers are aware of their rights whilst in work or returning to work and that they have important benefits and financial information around earnings and claiming Carers Allowance.
Better connecting into existing employment support services for those wanting to return to work.
Continuous advice and support for employers to help keep unpaid carers in work through regular updates and messaging. For example through the South Tyneside Pledge and Invest South Tyneside.
Ensure that any cost of living or poverty reduction initiatives include unpaid carers.
Provide targeted financial support and information to carers.
Support carers to access additional financial support, for example for food, energy, water etc.
Support carers to access a credit union.
Develop a communications campaign to connect carers to the financial information and support.

Promote the benefits of technology and how it can support carers.
Ensure that information and support is available for people in various formats and through a range of channels.

Ensure that any policies and initiatives focussed on population health or reducing health inequalities in South Tyneside recognise that unpaid caring can have a negative impact on health and wellbeing.
Support carers to improve their physical and mental wellbeing by being able to take part in leisure activities which are affordable and inclusive so that carers and the person they care for can attend together if they wish.
Ensure the Loneliness and Social Isolation Strategy has a specific focus on carers, who due to the multiple compounding factors that impact on them are more likely to become socially isolated and lonely.