Carers

Who is a Carer?

A carer can be defined as someone who spends a significant proportion of their life

providing unpaid support to family or potentially friends. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail,

disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems.

Source: Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities: a caring system on your side, a life of your own. (Department of Health, June 2008).

Estimated number of unpaid Carers in 2008

LA NameProvides no

care

Provides 1 to 19 hours care a week

Provides 20 to 49 hours

care a week

Provides 50 or more hours care a week

Total providing unpaid

care

Amber Valley 107,291 10,030 1,616 2,864 14,509

Bolsover 65,328 5,705 1,259 2,609 9,572

Chesterfield 88,799 8,388 1,408 2,805 12,601

Derbyshire Dales 61,720 6,396 735 1,249 8,380

Erewash 98,816 8,464 1,228 2,392 12,084

High Peak 83,161 7,542 919 1,779 10,239

North East Derbyshire 85,360 8,756 1,497 2,587 12,840

South Derbyshire 82,691 7,548 1,091 1,970 10,609

Derbyshire 673,117 62,852 9,760 18,271 90,834

Time spend in provision of care

• Bolsover and Chesterfield have a higher proportion of carers caring for over 50 hours.

• By contrast, High Peak and Derbyshire Dales have a higher proportion of carers caring for 1-19 hours.

Percentage of hours by carers allocated to caring at District level across Derbyshire

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

AmberValley

Bolsover Chesterfield DerbyshireDales

Erewash High Peak North EastDerbyshire

SouthDerbyshire

Derbyshire

Local Authorities across Derbyshire

Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

ca

rin

g h

ou

rs.

Provides 50+ hours of care

Provides 20-49 hours of care

Provides 1 -19 hours of care

Carer’s Allowance

• For entitlement of carer’s allowance, the carer needs to be caring for a person who is in receipt of attendance allowance or DLA middle or higher care for 35 plus hours a week; and not be earning more than £95pw in 2008/09

Uptake of Carer’s Allowance at August 2008

Number of carers across Derbyshire by their hours of care

62,852

9,760

18,271

6,250

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

Derbyshire

Allocation of caring hours

Nu

mb

er

orf

ca

rers

Provides 1- 19 hours of care

Provides 20-49 hours of care

Provides 50+ hours of care

Claimants of carers' allowance (35+ hours)

Of these carers:• 65, 852 provide unpaid

care for 1-19 hours per week

• 33,651 provide care for 20 - 49 hours per week and so may be entitled to a carers break.

• 18, 271 provide more than 50 hours unpaid care a week and may be entitled to a carer’s allowance.

• However, only around 6,250 claimants of carer’s allowance were recorded.

Uptake of Carer’s Allowance by LA

• Chesterfield and Bolsover have the highest number of claimants (only payable if caring for 35+ hours) and Derbyshire Dales the lowest.

Working Age Claiments of Carer's Allowance

940980

1,140

350

770

540

900

630

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

Amber Valley Bolsover Chesterfield Derbyshire Dales Erewash High Peak North EastDerbyshire

South Derbyshire

Nu

mb

er

of

ca

rers

cla

imin

g c

are

r's

all

ow

an

ce

Provision of unpaid care by age group

Provision of Unpaid Care by Age Group

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

35-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-74

75+

Ag

e G

rou

p

Number

• 2962 (3.4%) young people under the age of 20 years old;

• 9828 (11.4%)people aged 20 – 34 ;

• 50,548 (58.6%) people aged between the ages of 35 – 60.

• 22,989 (26.6%) people aged 60 and older.

Local needs of Carers

The CHART LSP held a carers event in 2008. A summary of the findings are as follows:• Young carers need an increase in social support and

leisure opportunities, and awareness should be raised amongst professionals who work with young people.

• Professionals working with carers need more benefits and welfare advice training, as finance for carers is an important issue.

• There was support for a central information point for adult carers, many identified the GP or library as a point to access information; and for support and more activities during carer’s week to raise general awareness.

Local needs of Carers cont.During carers’ week 2009, carers across Derbyshire were asked what 5 things would make the biggest difference toYOU as a CARER. The priorities emerged as the following:

• Emergency Carer Card and details how to acquire one. • More access to respite. • Personal Care Plan taken more notice of.• Sitting Service.• More information, advice and support. • Someone to listen who understands.• Carer allowance for over 60s. • Financial Support. • Training.

What are we doing?• There is a Draft Joint Carers Strategy for Derbyshire which will be

available for consultation in late 2009; the consultation should be wide ranging and include many carers from different areas, cultures, ages and gender, as well as health and social care professionals and voluntary organisations. (need updating?)

• Part of this years funding will support a pilot in Bolsover and Amber Valley for people supporting those with either dementia or end of life needs who are providing over 50 hours of care a week. It will offer home based night support to enable carers to have a goods night sleep Action planning for change

• Other projects that are taking place include: North East Derbyshire Dementia Project; and Night Time Care in Glossop.

Action planning for change

• Mapping our current resources and an audit of a carer’s pathway.

• Development of GP Protocols• Identification of carers, carer’s assessments and data

collection substantially improved.• Transition of carers from children’s to adult services.• Training programmes for carers.• Workforce development for professionals working with

carers.• Carers leaflet and information packs.• Short Breaks.