6 Carer Friendly Southampton - Carers identification rights, recognition and support PDF 433 KB
Report of the Director of Legal and Business
Operations requesting that the Panel consider the comments made by
the invited guests and use the information provided as evidence in
the review.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Summary of information provided:
A carers perspective – Jenny, Emma-May, Leah and Zunayrah
· Following a vox pop produced by No Limits featuring the views of young carers, and a vox pop by Carers in Southampton providing views of adult carers, 3 young carers, Leah, Ellie-May and Zunayrah, supported by Emma Jones and Emma Bowley from No Limits, informed the Panel about their experiences with regards to being recognised as a young carer.
· The lack of recognition and engagement from health services was identified as a challenge, with young carers often being ignored when wanting to be engaged in discussions with clinicians and the person they help to care for.
· Schools not knowing about the young carers role or understanding the responsibilities the young carer has outside of school, was also raised alongside not being able to access after school activities due to transport problems, and not discussing young carers in the school curriculum. This would help to normalise the role of being a young carer and could help self-identification by young people.
· Linda Lawless, Service Manager at Carers in Southampton, interviewed Jenny, a carer whose husband has dementia. Similar challenges about the need to repeatedly explain her caring role, not being listened to, and to be allowed to attend clinical appointments with her husband were raised by Jenny.
· Training in moving and handling was raised as was the lack of awareness by carers of the benefits and wider support that is available to them.
· A presentation was delivered by Debbie Hustings providing an overview of how Surrey Heartlands ICS support the identification of carers.