From July November 2015 local authorities will be tendering for adult carers services. Charities and other organisations both within and outside Berkshire will be submitting proposals to provide these services from April 2016. These may be for a three or five year period. We understand that some of our six local authorities and seven clinical commissioning groups may be designing carers service specifications bringing together local authority & clinical commissioning group areas. As Berkshire s county carers charity we want to hear views from carers of different ages, from different parts of Berkshire, and ensure that our proposals are designed to meet carers needs. Please tick or cross all those which apply. FINDING CARERS INFORMATION & ADVICE Websites for Carers Do Use Would Use Would Not Use 1. A local carers charity 2. A national carers charity 3. Another local charity 4. Another national charity 5. A local council 6. A local GP Surgery 7. A local hospital 8. NHS Direct 9. A carers hub: a single local website bringing lots of local organisations
together Which is your preferred choice? Number: Why is this? Helpline for Carers Do Use Would Use Would Not Use 1. A local carers charity 2. A national carers charity 3. Another local charity 4. Another national charity 5. A local council 6. NHS Direct 7. A carers hub: a single Helpline bringing lots of local organisations together Which is your preferred choice? Number: Why is this?
Helpline Availability Do Use Would Use Would Not Use 1. During the working week (09.00-17.00) 2. During weekday evenings (18.00 22.00) 3. At weekends (09.00 17.00) Which is your preferred choice? Number: Why is this? Face to Face Information & Advice for Carers 1. Drop-in at a Charity s offices 2. Drop-in at a community centre, village hall or similar community space Do Use Would Use Would Not Use
3. Drop-in at a local library 4. Drop-in at a local Job Centre 5. Drop-in at a local council 6. Drop-in at a local GP Surgery 7. Drop-in at a local hospital 8. Drop-in at a local school or college 9. At a carers support group meeting 10. At information events/talks for carers 11. Home visits Which is your preferred choice? Number: Why is this? Information via Social Media & Text Services Do Use Would Use Would Not Use 1. Carers dedicated Facebook pages 2. Carers blogs 3. Carers chat forums 4. Carers text updates
Information & Advice: your areas of need Have had advice Need advice 1. Managing the caring role 2. Finding & accessing respite services 3. Benefits & grants 4. Managing money and/or debt 5. Carers assessments 6. Carers health-checks 7. Understanding the cared for condition 8. Counselling and/or emotional support 9. Managing employment & caring 10. Hospital discharge 11. Dealing with health or social care professionals 12. Finding support groups 13. Aid, adaptations and specialist services 14. Telecare 15. Emergency Planning 16. Returning to work 17. Other issues
Support Services for Carers 1. Support groups in your local area Would Use Would Not Use Would Pay to attend/receive Y or N 2. Support groups online not applicable 3. Counselling services 4. Telephone contact calls: delivered once weekly by a volunteer 5. Telephone call circles: carer to carer not applicable not applicable 6. Therapies: e.g. Indian head massage, cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness 7. Carers walking, exercise or other health-focused groups 8. Carers arts & leisure groups: art, craft, book clubs, choirs,
photography, creative writing 9. Carers lunch or supper groups 10. Carers outings & events 11. Training for the caring role e.g. manual handling, caring with confidence, First Aid, handling medication, preparing healthy meals not applicable 12. Training for employment (e.g. improving functional literacy & numeracy, preparing CVs, jobsearching, writing job applications, interview training) 13. Other [please state]
Advocacy: when you feel it is needed Do Need Do Not Need 1. During assessments and support planning e.g. Carers Assessments (local authority social work teams) 2. In dealing with professionals e.g. talking to doctors, consultants, social workers 3. In dealing with schools and/or colleges 4. In your workplace (employer) 5. In dealing with staff at the Department of Work & Pensions or Job Centre Plus 6. Other: please state Forums and Events Services for Carers Would Use Would Not Use Would pay to attend 1. Daytime forums and events for a particular condition e.g. autism, dementia, mental health 2. Evening forums and events for a particular condition 3. A local general carers forum meeting quarterly to discuss carers issues 4. A central carers forum meeting quarterly to discuss carers issues
5. An online carers forum hosted quarterly to discuss carers issues 6. A peer support forum in your workplace. 7. Other [please state]
Working in your Community: Valuing Local Knowledge & Expertise Should carers support groups be hosted locally by carers, former carers, volunteers or an employee from an organisation? What support should be offered to former carers and for how long after caring ends? How to you think carers can share knowledge with other carers locally most effectively?
This section will help us identify which services are needed by different groups of carers. Your gender Your age (in years) Your local council and home postcode Council Postcode Retired, employed unemployed or not seeking work Your health I have a disability or poor health (Y/N) I have experienced mental health problems in the past 12 months e.g. depression, anxiety Your caring role/week 1-19 hrs/week 20-49 hrs/week 50+/week
The first person you care for Primary disability Secondary disabilities The second person you care for Primary disability Secondary disabilities Please return to Berkshire Carers Service helpline@berkshirecarers.org Suite 11 Beacontree Court, Gillette Way, Reading RG2 0BS