Learning disability - the carer's voice
Download (PDF 522.34 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Torbay carried out a survey to find out about the issues faced by carers of people with learning disabilities. The survey ran from mid-February to mid-March 2021. At this time Carers had provided 24/7 care for a long period of time, during the national lock-down put in place to suppress coronavirus transmission.
The key findings from their research are:
- Ineffective communication leads to lack of trust in the relationship between Adult Social Care and the Carer.
- There is a lack of clarity about the invoicing process and in the explanation of charges and errors.
- Carers often feel insensitivity towards their stress and the impact on the household, especially when they care for someone with challenging behaviour.
- There is no explicit co-production process with the service providers, especially when inadequate day service accommodation requires changes.
- Carers feel that service providers do not adequately recognize their knowledge and experience in the development of person-centred care for the cared-for person.
The report contains suggestions for the next lines of enquiry, five principles for good practice in the handling of complaints and response from Torbay Council’s Adult Social Care Services.