Carers Action Plan launched to provide respite and support
CARERS will have more free time and receive more support under the new Carers Action Plan, which launched yesterday.
‘It’s important that this is an action plan and not just a strategy,’ chairman of Carers Guernsey Peter Harwood said.
‘This is the beginning of a journey to more support and recognition for carers in Guernsey.’
The plan was launched yesterday and sets out actions for both the States of Guernsey and for charitable and voluntary organisations that will improve the services and support available for carers in the Bailiwick.
‘There are 4,000 informal carers in the island and the cost to provide that level of care [if the States were to fund it] would be about £29m. – which works out at about £7,000 per carer,’ said Mr Harwood.
‘The loss of income to the economy from carers [because they have to give up work or go part-time] is about £1.5m. per year.’
An end goal of full recognition and longer term financial support seems more achievable following the launch of the plan, he said.
A consultation was run last year to find out what carers wanted in terms of support to meet their needs.
Deputy Jane Stephens, who is social policy lead for Policy & Resources and chair of the Implementation and Engagement Group for the Supported Living and Ageing Well Strategy, co-ordinated the consultation.
‘Carers said they wanted more information and advice, high quality health services for the people they cared for and clarification on some of the financial implications that come with caring,’ she explained.
Some of the things to come from the Action Plan are to improve provision of respite in the island so carers can have more time to themselves, funding committed to improving support, recruitment of a qualified social worker, a co-ordinated body of support and additional provision to identify and support younger carers.
President of Health & Social Care Deputy Heidi Soulsby said work has already begun in terms of implementation of the plan.
‘This is not just a plan we have launched and are only just starting to work on, for two years we have been trying to get funding for reablement and improving the island’s respite provision,’ she said.
‘HSC does have a big part to play but there are other committees involved, as well as third sector charities and other people who come into contact with carers like doctors and GPs.
‘This is what the new model of care is all about; person-centred care and joined up work.’
