Our focus areas
We will concentrate our efforts on the four focus areas below to improve outcomes for carers. They are not listed in order of importance; they are all equally important.
- Focus Area 1: Improve support for carers
- Focus Area 2: Improve how we identify and recognise carers
- Focus Area 3: Improve the health, wellbeing and quality of life of carers
- Focus Area 4: Improve joint working
We will focus on early recognition, accessible support, joined up working and involving carers in decisions that affect them.
Our focus areas are guided by local and national data, lived experience and the York Unpaid Carers Consultation, which describes local carers’ experiences, needs, and views.
We have included some key measures of success under each focus area to help us monitor our progress. These include statements that describe what good would look like from a carer’s perspective, and key performance measures for organisations. The carer statements were developed by local carers, some of which they chose or adapted from Think Local Act Personal’s ‘Making It Real’ statements.
Focus Area 1: Improve support for carers
Carers have told us that timely, flexible support improves their ability to cope and to live well alongside caring. Many carers have trouble accessing the right help at the right time, especially during periods of change or crisis.
This focus area concentrates on improving carers’ access to information, advice, assessments, and support options that reflect their individual needs and circumstances.
All carers are entitled to a carer’s assessment. This is to find out what support they need, if they are able to continue caring, and if they are eligible to get help.
Not everyone wants to provide care, or it may not be the best thing for the person being cared for. Some people may need support to stop or reduce the amount of caring they do.
It is important that carers do not feel obligated or feel any emotional pressure to take on this role if it is not in everyone’s best interests. This can be talked about during a carer’s assessment or review, so that any concerns can be understood and the right support can be put in place.
We are committed to:
- enabling carers to make informed choices about support at different stages of their caring role
- improving access to a range of support options, starting with flexible and person-centred carers’ assessments and reviews
- improving access to clear and timely information and advice
Measures of success
What good would look like for carers
| Enabling carers to make informed choices about support |
|---|
| I can easily get information, advice and support that helps me think about and plan my priorities and know what to do when there is a crisis. |
| When I tell services about my situation, they help me know where I can find appropriate information or support. |
| I am supported to make decisions by people who see things from my point of view, with concern for what matters to me, my wellbeing and health. |
| Improving access to a range of support options, including flexible and person-centred carers’ assessments and reviews |
|---|
| I have the support I need from people who listen to me, and make me feel valued, noticed and cared for. |
| I have help and advice about how to make the best of the time I have got, to be able to live a life outside my caring role. |
| Improving access to clear and timely information and advice |
|---|
| I can access reliable information and advice that helps me provide care and tells me what I am entitled to in a way I understand. |
| I know where to get support during periods of change and in emergencies to help me manage the demands of my changing caring role. |
Key Performance Measures
| Key Performance Measures |
|---|
| Percentage of carers finding information and advice easy to access. |
| Number of information and advice sessions or contacts with carers. |
| Number of carers’ assessments and reviews completed. |
| A reduction in waiting times for assessments and reviews. |
Focus Area 2: Improve how we identify and recognise carers
Many carers are not recognised as carers, or do not recognise themselves as carers, especially when caring begins gradually or is seen as part of family life.
Whilst we understand that not everyone wants to be identified as a carer; early and sensitive recognition can help carers access support before they reach crisis point.
This focus area is about improving how we identify and recognise carers and support them to understand their caring roles.
We are committed to:
- supporting carers in all communities in York to recognise themselves as carers
- raising awareness of young and young adult carers in education so educators and young people recognise they are carers
- improving how we identify carers in health, care, employment, education, and wider community settings
Measures of success
What good would look like for carers
| What good would look like for carers |
|---|
| I realise I am a carer and I understand what this means. |
| I have my own identity; I am not only a carer. |
| I am recognised, listened to and valued as a carer, and people understand my individual situation and needs. |
| I am supported at first contact to understand my situation. |
| I am acknowledged and understood by my teachers. |
Key Performance Measures
| Key Performance Measures |
|---|
| Number of schools and colleges in the Young Carers Network. |
| Number of carers identified through initial contact and referrals. |
| Number of awareness raising and outreach sessions provided. |
Focus Area 3: Improve the health, wellbeing and quality of life of carers
We know that effective support can help carers to provide quality care whilst balancing their own needs and goals. It can also help carers meet their physical and mental health needs and prevent long-term health problems.
Easy access to the right support, networks, benefits and the opportunity for breaks are key to carers maintaining their independence, identity and social connections.
There is growing recognition nationally and locally of the link between caring, loneliness and serious mental health risk. Addressing loneliness and supporting carers’ mental wellbeing is therefore a shared priority for this strategy and for the city.
This focus area recognises the importance of preventing harm before crisis point by ensuring carers are supported to stay connected and access help early. We will also focus on helping carers to manage at work and in education and to maximise their finances.
We are committed to:
- improving opportunities for carer breaks and supporting carers to take them
- supporting carers to access healthcare, including mental health support
- reducing isolation and loneliness
- helping carers (and their families) understand and access entitlements and benefits that support financial wellbeing
- supporting carers to be able to work or study alongside caring
Measures of success
What good would look like for carers
| Improving opportunities for carer breaks and support to take them |
|---|
| I can get support for the person I care for so I can get a break. |
| I am offered respite that is appropriate and provided by skilled and experienced people. |
| I can get a break that works for my family. |
| Supporting carers to access healthcare, including mental health support |
|---|
| I can access support to attend healthcare appointments that accommodates and understands my caring role. |
| I know crisis situations will be responded to by services quickly, safely and with empathy. |
| Reducing isolation and loneliness |
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| I have the opportunity to take part in activities and join groups, including peer support. |
| I have a life outside of caring and I am able to remain connected to the people who matter to me. |
| I have access to non-judgemental, trusted support when I am struggling to cope with the demands of continuing to provide care. |
| Helping carers (and their families) understand and access entitlements and benefits that support financial wellbeing |
|---|
| I can access clear information and advice about any financial support and benefits available to me as a carer and my family. |
| Supporting carers to be able to work or study alongside caring |
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| I have teachers or employers that actually understand my situation and act on my needs. |
| I am supported to balance my caring responsibilities with my education, paid work or volunteering that takes account of my health and wellbeing. |
Key Performance Measures
| Key Performance Measures |
|---|
| Percentage of carers who have as much social contact as they want. |
| Reduction in how often carers say they feel lonely. |
| Reduction in the number of carers having to give up work due to caring. |
| Increase in carers that feel supported by their employer. |
| Percentage of carers who say that caring has caused financial difficulty. |
| Better recording of carers breaks to allow us to monitor availability and uptake. |
Focus Area 4: Improve joint working
Carers often interact with multiple services and organisations. When services are not joined up, carers may be frequently asked to repeat their story, navigate complex processes, or fill gaps between services.
This focus area is about improving how organisations work together so that carers experience support that is coordinated, consistent, and responsive.
We are committed to:
- improving how people working in health, education and social care recognise carers and work together to support their changing needs.
- involving carers appropriately in discussions and decisions, valuing their expertise
- improving communication and coordination across services
Measures of success
What good would look like for carers
| Improving how people working in health, education and social care recognise carers and work together to support their changing needs |
|---|
| I am supported by people who see me as an individual with particular needs, strengths, abilities and aspirations. |
| I feel I am valued and treated with respect and dignity. |
| I am involved in decisions that affect me and the person I care for, and I feel listened to and valued for my contribution. |
| Improving communication and coordination across services |
|---|
| The people that support me and the person I care for communicate well with each other to make things work as well as possible. |
Key Performance Measures
| Key Performance Measures |
|---|
| Evidence of multi-agency carer improvement plans. |
| Evidence of joint working with education partners. |
Carers Voice, Key Performance Measures
These are the key performance measures to ensure that we include what matters to carers across all our focus areas:
- Percentage of carers feeling involved in decisions.
- Evidence of active carer voice groups and carer representation on strategic boards.
- Partners evidencing service change based on lived experience.
- Annual “You Said, We Did” report.
Some of the key performance measures use the national Survey of Adult Carers in England. This will help us understand how York carers’ experiences change over time.