Care for the Carers is delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for the System Led Support for Carers Award at the HSJ Awards 2021.
An initiative to provide intensive support to carers in Hastings has secured our finalist place. The project focuses on carers who provide vital support to a family member, friend or neighbour who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction could not cope without their help.
The project aims to improve carers’ health and promote positive wellbeing, reduce carer crisis and family breakdown and deliver a consistent approach to give carers support. Carers who experience health inequalities as well as hidden carers, who are not known to local services, have been assisted through the project.
We are working closely with High Glades Medical Centre and Hastings and Rother Healthcare – also known as Warrior Square Surgery, Hastings Old Town Surgery and Churchwood Surgery – to proactively identify and register carers quickly so that they can be given the right healthcare and support when they need it.
The project so far has enabled 30% more carers* to receive one-to-one support, and supported GP practices to get help from the charity for many more local carers. Awareness about the impact of caring has also been improved, helping more carers to come forward and know that support is available.
Carers who are referred to us are given immediate crisis support and one-to-one information by experienced carer support workers. Information and guidance, such as where to get help with benefits, carers rights, local services available, help with emergency respite care and accessing social care and health care services is provided. Counselling for young adult and adult carers is also offered. There is also a monthly support group, and a programme of wellbeing activities including cooking and wellbeing sessions and leisure vouchers.
Dr. Fox, High Glades Medical Centre, says; “Because of the pandemic, many carers in Hastings are having a particularly difficult time and many more local people have become carers for the first time. Sometimes carers only ask us for help when they are in a crisis situation.”
HSJ editor, Alistair McLellan, says; “On behalf of all my colleagues, I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Care for the Carers on being nominated in the category of System Led Support for Carers Award in this year’s HSJ Awards. The applications we receive always present our panel of judges with a very difficult task as the standard is unfailingly high and the breadth of innovation and passion for patient care is always so inspiring.”
Jennifer Twist, Chief Executive, Care for the Carers, says; “We are delighted and thrilled to have been shortlisted for this award. The recognition reflects the collaborative efforts and dedication of our colleagues and partners who have worked so hard to successfully deliver this initiative.”
Over 1000 entries have been received for this year’s HSJ Awards. The official awards ceremony will be held on 18th November 2021.
There are over 69,000 carers in East Sussex with 34,000 additional carers caring for someone because of the pandemic.
Care for the Carers provides support for all unpaid carers in East Sussex. As the local Carers Centre, we are the single point of contact for anyone looking after a family member, neighbour or friend. Find out more about being a carer here, and find out more about how we can help carers.
*Compared to 2020.
