Approving the publication of ‘Promoting Partnerships in Caring’, the Overview Report of the Inspection of Social Care Support Services for Carers of Older People, the Minister said: “Carers are the backbone of community care. They have to become more central to the business of health and social care.
“Carers have to be true partners in the commissioning, planning, delivery and review of services designed to support the caring role and the people they care for.”
Mr McGimpsey added that services to support carers should optimise choice, promote independence and ensure fairness and equity.
He said: “Ensuring that service providers make practical support for carers a high priority remains a central objective of my Department’s community care policy.”
The Minister pointed to the need to continue to promote Carer’s Assessments and Direct Payments to encourage people to shape their own services and support and those of their loved ones and to work with carers at all levels to develop innovative practice and services to meet their needs.
The Minister added: “This report and its associated standards will take their place alongside other initiatives promoted by my Department to provide a comprehensive framework so that, in partnership with carers, we can continue to develop services that are flexible, responsive and of the highest possible quality.
“The messages from this report must be heard; lessons learned, and all the recommendations fully and consistently implemented.”
Notes to Editors:
- Carers are people who, without payment, provide help and support to a family member or friend who may not be able to manage at home without this help because of frailty, illness or disability. Carers can be adults caring for other adults, parents caring for ill or disabled children or young people under 18 who care for another family member. The term “carers” excludes paid care workers and volunteers from voluntary organisations.
- The Overview Report of the Inspection of Social Care Support Services for Carers of Older People, entitled Promoting Partnerships in Caring, and individual Trust inspection reports are available on the Department’s website at: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/ssi/ssi-inspection_of_social_care_support_services_for_carers_of_older_people
- While the standards developed for this inspection focused on carers of older people they will be relevant to other carers who use social care services.
- In January 2006, DHSSPS published its Strategy for Carers, Caring for Carers: Recognising, Valuing and Supporting the Caring Role. The strategy highlights the need to provide the support that carers want, and need, to allow them to continue caring for as long as they wish to and are able to do so, without jeopardising their own health and wellbeing, financial security, or reducing their expectation of a reasonable quality of life. Caring for Carers can be accessed on the Department’s website at: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/ec-dhssps-caring-for-carers.pdf
- Information about carers’ issues, including Carer’s Assessment can be accessed on the Department’s website through: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/hss/ec-community-care/ec-carers.htm
- Information and Guidance about Direct Payments can be accessed on the Department’s website through: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/hss/ec-community-care/directpayments-about.htm
- Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0074, or out of hours, contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440, and your call will be returned.
