What it is like to be a Carer in Slough

This report summarises Healthwatch Slough's engagement from 'A Call to Action' in Autumn 2017, along with general intelligence gathered from carers over that year.

Healthwatch Slough created a survey that was designed to gather free text responses, but did not collect demographic data so the report captures the voice and views of the carer but does not report on age, gender, ethnicity, or which area of Slough the carer lives in.

The survey asked how well supported carers felt, what difference the support made to their caring role, what were the biggest challenges and concerns and, what new or additional support would carers appreciate.

The report provides an overview of, and signposting to, the support currently available to carers in Slough including an excerpt from the Slough Carers Strategy 2016-17. It also provides a brief note about Carers Assessments.

The overall findings were that, even though there appears to be a number of initiatives aimed at providing support to carers, just over half of the 65 respondents to the survey reported feeling poorly supported.

The report made 7 recommendations mainly to do with communicating better with carers around both what is available, and what would be beneficial for them. The report and the recommendations have been shared with all partner organisations signed up to the Slough Carers Memorandum of Understanding and the Carers Partnership Board. The aspiration of Healthwatch Slough is to encourage those partners to work together to improve the lives of carers. The Partnership Board have agreed to set up a number of task and finish groups to explore issues raised in the report.