Published on Thursday 21 November 2024
A new vision for carers, outlining a commitment to creating a better future for the nearly 69,000 unpaid carers across the county, has been coordinated by the Pan Dorset Carers Steering Group.
The steering group includes BCP Council, Dorset Council, carers across Dorset and NHS Dorset working in partnership.
The vision which can be viewed on the Our Dorset website highlights Carers UK figures that show there are 11 million unpaid carers in the UK, contributing during the Covid pandemic £540m every day.
"Together with Carers - A Dorset Vision" says that only a fifth of carers in Dorset (14,000) are known to carers' support services, adding that while being a carer can be rewarding, it can also be incredibly challenging - emotionally, physically and financially - and many carers experience feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Steve Duckett, chair of the Pan Dorset Carers steering group, said: "Carers need to be valued and listened to; their personal needs and wellbeing need to be addressed with good support, accessible information and opportunities for taking that important break from the daily grind.
"For some, devoting time to care for someone important to them is rewarding, but it is vital that assistance is available to gain new proficiencies, such as organisational, practical and resilience skills."
Dame Philippa Russell DBE, Carers UK Vice President, said: "I congratulate Dorset for having engaged carers themselves at every stage of the development of their vision - and action plan - for a Dorset carers vision. As a long-term carer myself, I feel excited by the sense of energy, creativity and mutual respect which runs throughout the proposals. It offers recognition, respect and responsibilities to carers themselves, and recognises and builds upon the new strategic relationships between carers, services, community and voluntary sector."
The vision wants to:
- ensure all carers are valued, visible and heard
- provide all carers with choice and opportunities to take breaks from their caring role, as well as access to support in a crisis
- understand carers' personal needs and situations and treat everyone fairly
- support all carers to have a meaningful and fulfilling life, alongside and after caring
- provide information, advice, guidance and practical resources to enable carers to carry out their caring role
- ensure carers' own physical, emotional and mental wellbeing are supported
- be honest, consistent and work together to manage expectations.
And it encourages carers to get involved through:
- reading the vision and its objectives to be informed
- thinking about what you would like to change for you
- reaching out to services to get support
- being recognised as a carer
- helping us spread the good news.
Read the vision and find out more information
If you are an unpaid carer and wish to help implement this vision and shape future services for carers, you can join the Pan Dorset Carers Steering Group.
Contact our participation and engagement team via dhc.carersdorset@nhs.net.
If you are caring for someone in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole, please contact BCP Carer Support - Tel: 01202 128787; email carersupport@bcpcouncil.gov.uk or visit Home page | BCP Carers Service
If you are caring for someone in the Dorset Council area please contact Carer Support Dorset - Tel: 0800 368 8349, email admin@carersupportdorset.co.uk or visit Carer Support Dorset | Supporting Carers in Dorset
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