I was invited and this is where I am going today

I was invited and this is where I am going today

Postby wendy » 26 Feb 2009, 09:45

Individual budgets can benefit carers, research shows
Carer Services Minister, Phil Hope, has today announced the findings of a new report which suggests carers can benefit from individual budgets. However it also highlights that the assessment process for service users’ individual budgets sometimes overlooks the needs of carers.

Individual budgets are an alternative way of paying for social care. Instead of local authorities buying services on behalf of a carer, that person is given control of their own budget and can direct how it is spent, allowing the care package to be tailored to their needs.

The research, 'The Individual Budgets Pilot Projects: Impacts and Outcomes for Carers' found that carers are more able to “engage in activities of their choice” when using individual budgets.

Carers identified the benefits of individual budgets as including greater flexibility, choice and control. This positively affected how they spent their time and improved the quality of life of the service user.

But the research also revealed that the assessment process for service users’ individual budgets can sometimes overlook carers' needs. Local authority officers also had mixed views about paying carers from a person’s individual budget.

Mr Hope said: "Carers have told me that their lives improved beyond all recognition when their loved one got choice and control over their own care. What is clear is that individual budgets need to be carefully implemented.

"This research, combined with the excellent report from The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Caring for Carers, will help local authorities to help more people and carers experience the benefits of individual budgets.”

Director of Policy and Communications at The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Alex Fox, welcomed the findings, but warned: "Individual budgets need to be implemented properly to allow carers greater involvement in the decisions which affect their lives.

"However some councils are neglecting to do this. Where carers feel isolated and under-valued, care plans for very vulnerable people can break down. Neither families, nor the social care system’s budgets can afford this.

"Our 'Putting People First Without Putting Carers Second' report, launched today, examines the challenges local councils and health trusts face in making 'personalisation' a reality for carers alongside those they care for. It also highlights a range of solutions that are already in place to meet those challenges."

Read 'Putting People First without putting carers second'
http://www.carers.org/news/individual-b ... 10,NW.html
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Re: I was invited and this is where I am going today

Postby graham » 26 Feb 2009, 13:19

I had just had a text from Wendy....'Just pulling in to London'........Graham.
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Re: I was invited and this is where I am going today

Postby wendy » 27 Feb 2009, 14:16

This is the event that I was invited to and attended yesterday in Parliament.

I will type out my notes asap.

ImageImage



Parliamentary Reception hosted by Barbara Keeley MP
to launch ‘Putting people first without putting carers second’
The Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, Westminster, London.

26th Feb 2009, 4pm - 6pm.


This far-reaching report, co-authored by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Caring for Carers, will show how we can improve the care and support system to produce better outcomes for families, individuals and carers.

Carers have always wanted better outcomes for the people they care for but with many carers suffering poverty, ill health and isolation due to unsustainably heavy caring roles, they also deserve better outcomes for themselves.

‘Putting People First without putting carers second’ examines the challenges in making personalisation a reality for carers alongside those they care for.

It highlights a range of solutions already in place to meet those challenges, often involving inspirational partnerships between Third Sector carers’ services and innovative commissioners within councils and the NHS.

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Caring for Carers are the two biggest providers of services for carers in the UK and work together at a national level to promote policies and guidance that will support carers
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers operates throughout the UK with 144 carers’ centres. Carers’ centres provide practical advice, one-to-one and group counselling support and various training to over 350,000 carers, which include specialist support for 20,000 young carers. Support for carers and young carers is given within the context of helping the whole family unit.

http://www.carers.org
With its network of schemes throughout England and Wales, Crossroads Caring for Carers is the largest provider of respite care amounting to 4.7million hours ever year. Running for 35 years Crossroads have unparalleled experience and expertise in providing a high level of personal care for the cared-for and vital support for the carer as well.

       http://www.crossroads.org.uk

http://chill4us.com/news/history-of-chill4us
Last edited by wendy on 25 Feb 2012, 19:24, edited 1 time in total.
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