A NEW Carers’ Strategy aims to help the 11,000 people in Reading who offer support to a loved one.
Launched by Reading Borough Council, it brings together health and voluntary sectors for a new coordinated response, spearheaded by a steering group commissioned for the next three years.
It follows a year-long consultation process that saw carers share experiences, wants and needs and will provide a common approach to how organisations work with carers and educate people on what it means to be a carer.
It was endorsed at a meeting of the Council’s Adult Social care and Education Committee on Wednesday, June 12.
The strategy has identified the following priorities:
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Identifying carers and promoting carers’ rights
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Supporting and recognising carers in Reading
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Maximising the voice of carers
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Ensuring culturally competent support is available, including breaks and crisis support
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Supporting carers with employment and learning.
How the action plan is implemented will now be monitored over the next three years by the Health and Wellbeing Board.
Melissa Wise, executive director for the Directorate of Communities and Adult Social Care, said: “Reading’s carers are truly amazing people whose lives are fundamentally affected on every level because they are helping someone keep safe and well in their own homes.
“This strategy is the first time there has been a single approach across Reading, created by the people it affects the most – carers.
“Carers have been extremely generous with their time, telling us about their experiences and working with the right partners to try and get the system to work for them now and others in the future. We thank them for the valuable time they have given us to help shape Reading’s new strategy.”
The Carers Partnership, which represents Reading Mencap, Age UK Reading, Age UK Berkshire and Communicare, welcomed the plan: “Carers themselves have been at the heart of this strategy which means it is about them and for them.
“We want carers to feel reassured there is one approach in Reading ensuring that support and help is joined up across health, social care and the voluntary sector.”
Cllr Dave McElroy, who is Green Party councillor for Redlands Ward, welcomed the plan.
He said: “Unpaid carers, who spend significant time and effort caring for their family and loved ones, provide a great service to our community. Support is available to carers, but remains unaccessed by most of the estimated 11,000 carers in Reading. Greens back Reading‘s new All Age Carers Strategy and Action Plan. We encourage anyone who thinks they might need support to get in touch, and anyone receiving support to talk to us and help refine the service further.”
The strategy has also been devised with Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust, Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, Healthwatch, Compass Recovery College, Brighter Futures for Children, Berkshire West, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Integrated Care Board, Younger People with Dementia.
