National Carer Organisations - Suggestions for Unpaid Carers
Principles
Carers and those they care for must be at the heart of decisions that affect them, involved and consulted about what matters to them and what support would help them at this time. Decisions must be based on evidence and balance risk of the harms of COVID19 versus the known harms that isolation can and is causing unpaid carers. Individuals should be supported to make decisions based around their circumstances and good information is needed to support this.
Information
Although it will be challenging to produce different information for different groups of people, dedicated information must be produced for people who may have to remain at home for longer and their unpaid carers. This should include information that enables carers, disabled and older people to make risk based decisions.
Specific information on face coverings needs to be produced and widely broadcast, alongside messages on handwashing and physical distancing.
For those whose lockdown remains in place for longer, a wraparound service must be introduced.
Services
• Services in the home reinstated as soon as is practical. This includes an individual discussion and shared risk assessment with individuals – this must be led by them. Ensuring all staff have the relevant PPE for their tasks.
• Undertake a risk assessment of services – including community services - outwith the home. Consider what may be possible to restart with changes e.g. with less people attending to allow for physical distancing. Cleaning guidelines for any external venue pre and post activities with appropriate PPE for all staff.
• Offer other options for those individuals who cannot have people providing services in their own home and for those who have had external services withdrawn. This includes grants for IT equipment and broadband connections, TV subscriptions and equipment for the home and garden. Self-Directed Support should be made as flexible as possible.
• Extend direct payments to enable for this period close family members to be employed through a direct payment in place of traditional services in all cases where the service user and carer would like this to be an option.
Practical
• Enable those who are caring for someone with vulnerable health who is not on the shielded list to be able to register for food boxes and priority shopping slots. Ensure that shopping deliveries prioritise those who cannot leave the home.
• Where the household does not have this available, government funded and arranged broadband should be provided for all shielded households. IT suitable for the individual should also be provided. This could be through the SCVO no one left behind scheme
• Where the household does not have this available, grants should be available for subscription television services, kindle books or magazine subscriptions.
• Local councils should start up library book delivery services in their area, utilising their support services to enable individuals to set up an account. Books could be delivered utilising local community support networks.
Financial
• Work with the UK Government to extend furlough for unpaid carers and those who have to shield. Extend this to ensure that all those who have to remain at home because of either being shielded or supporting someone with vulnerable health are paid a minimum of 80% of wages.
• Financial support should be provided to carers where there has been an impact in their income and/or an increase in their household costs
Health and Emotional
Dedicated resource including counselling resources available to any carer who needs it
HSCP to ensure that full funding from Carers Act is passed on to carers services to deliver emotional and other supports.
Explore the potential for remote health checks for carers
Expand the campaign to encourage people to use their GPs when they need to, backup with online health resources e.g. through NHS Inform
Transport to routine healthcare appointments – consideration of what might need to be in place to enable carers and those they care for to be able to attend physical appointments
Testing
Unpaid Carers should be included as key workers for the purposes of testing and should have access to testing centres, mobile testing units and postal testing kits
Vaccination (when it becomes available) should prioritise shielding people and those who qualify for a flu immunisation. Meaning carers are prioritised and vaccinated in the first wave.
Carers and those they care for must be at the heart of decisions that affect them, involved and consulted about what matters to them and what support would help them at this time. Decisions must be based on evidence and balance risk of the harms of COVID19 versus the known harms that isolation can and is causing unpaid carers. Individuals should be supported to make decisions based around their circumstances and good information is needed to support this.
Information
Although it will be challenging to produce different information for different groups of people, dedicated information must be produced for people who may have to remain at home for longer and their unpaid carers. This should include information that enables carers, disabled and older people to make risk based decisions.
Specific information on face coverings needs to be produced and widely broadcast, alongside messages on handwashing and physical distancing.
For those whose lockdown remains in place for longer, a wraparound service must be introduced.
Services
• Services in the home reinstated as soon as is practical. This includes an individual discussion and shared risk assessment with individuals – this must be led by them. Ensuring all staff have the relevant PPE for their tasks.
• Undertake a risk assessment of services – including community services - outwith the home. Consider what may be possible to restart with changes e.g. with less people attending to allow for physical distancing. Cleaning guidelines for any external venue pre and post activities with appropriate PPE for all staff.
• Offer other options for those individuals who cannot have people providing services in their own home and for those who have had external services withdrawn. This includes grants for IT equipment and broadband connections, TV subscriptions and equipment for the home and garden. Self-Directed Support should be made as flexible as possible.
• Extend direct payments to enable for this period close family members to be employed through a direct payment in place of traditional services in all cases where the service user and carer would like this to be an option.
Practical
• Enable those who are caring for someone with vulnerable health who is not on the shielded list to be able to register for food boxes and priority shopping slots. Ensure that shopping deliveries prioritise those who cannot leave the home.
• Where the household does not have this available, government funded and arranged broadband should be provided for all shielded households. IT suitable for the individual should also be provided. This could be through the SCVO no one left behind scheme
• Where the household does not have this available, grants should be available for subscription television services, kindle books or magazine subscriptions.
• Local councils should start up library book delivery services in their area, utilising their support services to enable individuals to set up an account. Books could be delivered utilising local community support networks.
Financial
• Work with the UK Government to extend furlough for unpaid carers and those who have to shield. Extend this to ensure that all those who have to remain at home because of either being shielded or supporting someone with vulnerable health are paid a minimum of 80% of wages.
• Financial support should be provided to carers where there has been an impact in their income and/or an increase in their household costs
Health and Emotional
Dedicated resource including counselling resources available to any carer who needs it
HSCP to ensure that full funding from Carers Act is passed on to carers services to deliver emotional and other supports.
Explore the potential for remote health checks for carers
Expand the campaign to encourage people to use their GPs when they need to, backup with online health resources e.g. through NHS Inform
Transport to routine healthcare appointments – consideration of what might need to be in place to enable carers and those they care for to be able to attend physical appointments
Testing
Unpaid Carers should be included as key workers for the purposes of testing and should have access to testing centres, mobile testing units and postal testing kits
Vaccination (when it becomes available) should prioritise shielding people and those who qualify for a flu immunisation. Meaning carers are prioritised and vaccinated in the first wave.
Why the contribution is important
Unpaid carers have been disproportionately affected by lockdown measures. In many cases the services and support they previously relied on have been withdrawn or greatly reduced.
They play a vital role in supporting vulnerable and shielded people and many are at breaking point.
Research by Carers UK outlines the many ways that carers have been impacted: https://www.carersuk.org/news-and-campaigns/campaigns/caring-behind-closed-doors
The National Carer Organisations have been working closely with carers and carer support organisations to identify issues for carers across Scotland and seek solutions and potential government measures to support them both during and after lockdown.
Our submission brings together these proposals for consideration
They play a vital role in supporting vulnerable and shielded people and many are at breaking point.
Research by Carers UK outlines the many ways that carers have been impacted: https://www.carersuk.org/news-and-campaigns/campaigns/caring-behind-closed-doors
The National Carer Organisations have been working closely with carers and carer support organisations to identify issues for carers across Scotland and seek solutions and potential government measures to support them both during and after lockdown.
Our submission brings together these proposals for consideration
by COCIS on May 11, 2020 at 01:32PM
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