1.1 – Definition of a Carer
Carers are people who, without payment, provide help and support to a family member, friend or neighbour who cannot manage on their own due to physical or mental illness, disability, substance misuse or frailty brought on by old age.
Caring roles can include administering medication, lifting and handling, personal or emotional care. Carers should not be confused with paid care workers, care assistants or with volunteer care workers.
A “young carer” is defined as being someone below 18, who carries out significant caring tasks and by so doing, shoulders a level of responsibility for another person which is inappropriate for their age.
This situation often arises when parents who have long term conditions are not offered appropriate help and support, although it is a fact that most children of disabled or sick parents do not have to take on such responsible caring roles.
The person receiving care may, or may not be registered at the carer’s practice. When this situation arises, because the practice will not be always be able to ascertain that the carer / patient relationship has ceased, the carer may be asked to re-confirm their carer status.
Where the person receiving care is a registered patient at the carer’s practice, the carer / patient relationship can be verified more frequently, resulting in practice-held information being able to be modified when significant events such as death or de-registration occur.
Many carers may not identify themselves as a carer. Instead, they see themselves as someone’s partner, relative or friend who is simply ‘doing their best’ to help someone they care about. For this reason, asking ‘do you look after someone?’ can be a more effective opening question than ‘are you a carer?
1.2 – Significance of Identifying Carers
This organisation will use the NHS England Carers toolkit which provides detailed guidance on how the organisation can identify and support the wellbeing of carers and their family. Furthermore, by effectively identifying and appropriately supporting carers, this organisation can make sure carers are able to lead a positive life outside their caring role.
1.3 Mechanisms for Identifying Carers
This organisation uses two methods to identify carers – self-identification and organisational identification. Self-identification is reliant on individuals informing staff that they are carers.
Organisational identification uses the following methods to raise awareness of the support available to individuals:
- Displaying posters in the waiting room and clinical areas
- Including a carer section on new patient registration forms
- Promoting carer information on the organisation website and other social media
- Placing carer registration forms at reception (see Annex A)
- Holding carer campaigns and events using local media, social media and a range of other opportunities.
- When an individual is collecting a prescription on behalf of someone else
- During a discussion with a patient in consultation or other opportune times
All staff have a responsibility to try to identify, support and signpost carers.
1.4 Recording Carer Details
Staff are to ensure that carers are correctly coded on the clinical system using SNOMED CT code: Caregiver (person) SCTID: 133932002, Carer – ub1ju, Has a Carer – 918F, No longer a carer – Y3222. Furthermore, individuals identified as carers will be added to the carers’ register and an alert added to the clinical system to ensure whole team awareness.
1.5 – Support to Carers
To ensure carers are identified and supported effectively, this organisation will adhere to the NHS England Supporting carers in general practice: a framework of quality markers.
1.6 – Carers Champion
There is a nominated Carers Champion at this organisation and it is their responsibility to take the lead on all carer-related matters, providing advice and direction to staff and patients as required. Furthermore, they will gather evidence and complete the declaration at Appendix B of the framework of quality markers.
1.7 – Additional Resources for Carers
Additional services and agencies to which carers can be signposted are: