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More co-ordinated support will soon be a reality for carers in the county thanks to a new Carers Strategy developed in partnership with the voluntary sector by Hampshire County Council.
National Carers Week next week (9-13 June 2008) aims to highlight the impact caring has on those carers who dedicate their lives to helping people in need of support.
It is estimated that there are up to 126,000 carers in Hampshire with around 19,808 carers providing more than 50 hours of unpaid care per week. It is anticipated that, due to demographic changes and growth, the number of people requiring support and services will increase.
Councillor Felicity Hindson, Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Adult Social Care, has launched a strategy that identifies key priorities to support carers and is the result of partnership working across health and social care services which will provide a co-ordinated response to carers’ needs.
Staff from Hampshire County Council's Adult Services department have been working closely with key stakeholders including carers, partners in the voluntary sector, the health service and statutory support services to develop the strategy. The strategy identifies three key aims:
• To secure information, services and support for carers of all ages which address locally agreed priorities
• To secure services which are flexible and able to change in line with people's unique circumstances, enabling independence and choice
• To make sure carers can access services and support no matter where they live
Closer partnership working with other agencies will see improved wellbeing and community services, a new emergency respite service has already been set up and further plans include establishing rapid respite services for carers caring for someone at the end of life.
The Carers Action Planning for Emergencies (CAPE) Service is being piloted in partnership with Carers Together in Hampshire. CAPE staff can assist carers to develop an emergency plan and register it in the event on a unplanned incident. This is a free service for all carers in the community, not only those who are known to Adult Services and the service can support emergency respite in short term cases.
Carers are also expected to benefit from the trend towards more personalised support which will enable greater flexibility of support to meet individual needs.
Commenting on the strategy Councillor Felicity Hindson, Hampshire County Council's Executive member for Adult Social Care said: "Hampshire County Council and its partners recognise the vital role of carers who carry out a hugely important job caring for relatives, friends or neighbours who are in need of support due to mental illness, frailty or disability. We want to ensure, along with other agencies, that these carers have the support and information they need.
"It’s vital that we, along with carers and our partners in the voluntary sector, health service, and other statutory service providers ensure that services are aligned and co-ordinated in order to improve the support which is available. I welcome this strategy and hope that we all can build on it to ensure we raise awareness and deliver effective, flexible services which meet individual needs."
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