PCT Carers Leads

You will want to

1. Ensure active NHS participation in the Multi Agency Carer Strategy Groups including both commissioners and providers
2. Develop information strategies for local NHS as part of broader multi-agency carers’ strategy
3. Ensure PCT and Practice-based commissioning have an appropriate focus on carers’ issues and are developed with regular and systematic consultation with carers and carers’ organisations
4. Ensure Service Plans for children’s services recognise the need to support young carers and parents of disabled children with complex health needs
5. Promote the use of GP Carers registers to provide information to carers
6. Provide guidance around carers providing medication to service users
7. LINks service having a clear focus on carers click here for CPPIH website
8. Monitor Hospital Discharge Procedure to ensure that carers needs are addressed appropriately
9. Ensure that Public Health and Health Promotion initiatives include carers health with appropriate links to the Expert Carer Programme
10. Ensure the availability of support for carers’ in line with the multi Agency carers’ strategy and the LAA and ensure other NHS services are carer-aware, for example Joint Commissioning and practice-based commissioning in partnership with the local authority.
11. Encourage preventive services (stress-busting on prescription, back care advice, regular health checks, counselling, signposting, carers’ support groups) are available for carers
12. Encourage, where appropriate, Carers’ assessments to be undertaken by District Nurses etc through the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 s.31 flexibilities
13. Seek help from local authority to undertake carers assessments in continuing care cases where the carer undertakes regular and substantial care – in order to help inform the continuing care process and identify whether carers services are also appropriate
14. Consider the needs of carers in Out of Hours and emergency planning
15. Ensure that staff receive awareness training, particularly staff at key access points
16. Ensure that the Carers’ voice is heard at commissioning, planning, feedback (see under ACS etc) and making sure all health providers respond to carers too
17. Promote Carers Friendly Employment practice for NHS staff click here for Carers UK materials
18. Encourage development of develop of workplace carers’ groups as part of employers’ response to the needs of carers within their workforces – with links to local carers strategy groups – both for NHS staff and the staff of organisation you work with, e.g. through Public Health and other forums
19. Promote equal opportunities for carers.  A tool which can be adapted to guide you through this is here