Draft Joint Carers Strategy 2022-25 consultation

Overview

As a carer or as someone supporting a carer, we would like your feedback on the refreshed draft Joint Carers Strategy 2022-25.

27 JUNE UPDATE: We are sorry that we have had to postpone the planned event on 28 June due to illness. The new date for the drop in event at Leicester City Football Club is 13 July, 1-3pm. 

Who is a carer?
Many of us look after someone that we care about. We define a carer as anyone who supports and cares, unpaid, for a family member or friend living with a disability, long-term illness, substance misuse or a mental health need, when this person would not manage without help. 

This definition was developed from feedback from our local carers, who also feel it is important that we acknowledge the following factors:

• A carer does not always live with the person they care for.
• A caring role should not be defined by the number of hours they provide care
• The carer could be caring for their son, daughter, husband, wife, mother, or father - this list is not exhaustive, and the relationship between the carer and the person may also extend beyond traditional family roles.
• Sometimes a carer can be caring for more than one person, across different generations.
• Carers may also receive support from a carer themselves.
• If you receive carers allowance this does not mean that you are in a paid carer role.
• Carers can be any age – adult carers over age 18, young carers under age 18 and young adult carers aged between 18 and 25.

The draft Joint Carers Strategy 2022-25 (see related documents below) sets out our vision and priorities for recognising, valuing and supporting carers. It reflects recent legislation and national guidance regarding the role and duties of local authorities and the NHS towards carers. The strategy also aims to respond to issues that have been highlighted locally. It also sets out how the partners signed up to this strategy will work together to address these issues.

This strategy has been prepared by Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council, Rutland County Council and the clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) for these areas.

Why your views matter

We’ve identified eight key priorities to support carers in their caring role and to maintain their own health and wellbeing. The strategy outlines our actions for each priority, and we want to know your views on these. Your feedback will be used to further develop our action plan for the final Joint Carers Strategy 2022-25.

Please read the attached draft strategy before completing the consultation, especially pages 14-22.  

We also have an easy read version of the survey attached for those who may need it. It can be printed and returned to us via post.   

If you would like to be involved in future work to develop plans and improve services with Leicester City Council, please email your contact details to nicola.cawrey@leicester.gov.uk

Thank you for your feedback. Your views are important to us.

What happens next

After the consultation closes in July, we will analyse the results and share the findings during autumn 2022.