Caring for carers
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Healthwatch Gateshead gathered views and experiences of carers on carer’s assessments in order to provide evidence for providers and commissioners to improve access and service provision in Gateshead.
Carers were asked to complete a survey over a five week period, between July and August 2017 – 264 people participated, 56 of whom has experience of carer’s assessments. Carers were asked about: how informed they felt, support plans, whether support identified is provided, waiting times and whether they felt treated with dignity and respect.
Feedback was broadly negative and indicate that the process for requesting a carer’s assessment was not considered user friendly, nor fit for purpose by carers. A majority of carers did not feel the assessment had helped them get the support they needed and many carers did not know that assessments were available, nor what services were available to them.
Healthwatch Gateshead conclude that carer’s assessment procedures should be improved and recommendations were made around increasing uptake of assessments, improving assessment quality and streamlining partnership working.