How Can we Improve Support for Carers?
We want to be partners in care . We want our expertise and strengths recognised in the care of our relatives. Carers have strengths as well as needs.
What we did
Healthwatch Wandsworth launched a survey to gain insight into carers’ current lives, including issues around their own health and financial concerns, and what support they need to help them live well whilst caring for a family member or friend.
We wanted to measure the current experiences of local residents in Wandsworth and their satisfaction with the current support services available, with a view to measuring current practice against the new proposed strategy.
The consultation was open from 9th June 2016 until 22nd July 2016 in the form of a survey which was taken to various outreach events.
A mixture of open and closed questions were used to draw out people’s experiences, thoughts and suggestions, through which we could draw conclusions about the experiences of carers in Wandsworth.
Key Findings
- We found that a significant number of respondents were either not aware of available support services or were not using the services and may not be getting the support they need.
- Carers felt significant responsibility towards the health and wellbeing of the person they care for and their central and integral role in managing their care.
- There was some suggestion of a lack of involvement and empowerment in choosing the appropriate care to meet the needs of the person they are caring for and for themselves.
- Services may not be supporting enough carers to care for their family members or friends, nor helping them to cope with their caring responsibilities, which could lead to further health and wellbeing problems for both the cared for person and the carer.
- They indicated they needed practical support to help them support the people they care for such as training and support for their own wellbeing.
- Identification of carers and accommodating their needs within the network of care is important, as is raising awareness amongst carers of the support and services available to them.
Downloads
For more information read our report about the consultation carried out to improve support for carers
After writing the report we shared our findings with Wandsworth Council so that the views people shared with us can inform their new strategy.
If you need this report in a different format, please email
enquiries@healthwatchwandsworth.co.uk or call 020 8516 7767
