introducing caring with confidence

9
2008 Introducing Caring with Confidence Making a positive difference to the lives of carers

Upload: rob-finch

Post on 09-May-2015

597 views

Category:

Documents


4 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Introducing caring with confidence

2008

IntroducingCaring with ConfidenceMaking a positive difference to the lives of carers

Page 2: Introducing caring with confidence

Foreword

“Carers build up theirskills and knowledgethrough difficult years andoften say they wish theycould pass on what theyknow so others don'thave such a hard time.This is what Caring withConfidence hopes toachieve by developingcourses based on whatcarers themselves havelearned. As a carer ledorganisation this isexactly what Carers UKhas been campaigning tosee happen. Carers UK ispleased to be a partner inthis new and muchneeded initiative.”

Imelda Redmond Chief Executive Carers UK

“Working with and forcarers, usually in theirown homes, we haveseen at first hand thehuge range of knowledgeand expertise that theydevelop. The opportunityto be part of Caring withConfidence and tocontribute to thedevelopment of aprogramme of coursesthat will help more carersrecognise their ownexpertise and their ownneeds was something weat Crossroads said aresounding ‘yes’ to.”

Anne Roberts Chief Executive Crossroads Association

“Partners UK is a nationalnetwork of families whohave a disabled child ordisabled adult and theirallies, working together tobuild capacity to work inpartnership at local,regional and nationallevels. Caring withConfidence is a fantasticway to help providelearning opportunities tocarers and particularlyfocus on the impact at alocal level where carersreally want it. We’redelighted we are able tobe part of this.”

Julia Erskine Director Merseyside Partners UK

“The Expert PatientsProgramme helps peopletake back control of theirlives by learning newskills to manage theirlong-term healthcondition(s) on a dailybasis. Carers shouldn’t beforgotten and this kind ofsupport, to enable carersto manage their ownhealth and wellbeing andthat of the person theycare for, is exactly whatshould be available. We’reproud to be involved withthis project.”

Jim Phillips Development &Operations Director Expert Patients Programme CIC

“The Princess Royal Trustfor Carers and its networkof carers’ centres reallyvalues the recognitionand investment in carersthat has been provided bythe Caring withConfidence initiative.Involving carers’organisations who deliverfront line support tocarers at the very outsethas ensured that thetraining covers the areasof support carers actuallyneed. Receiving sometraining will make all thedifference in enablingcarers to sustain andbalance their caringresponsibilities, whilstachieving their owncareer and lifeaspirations.”

Jane Burt Director of Operations The Princess Royal Trust for Carers

Supporting statements

“We have an army of carers in this country who providean untold amount of support and care for a loved one,family member, neighbour or friend. This can oftenmean providing care 24 hours a day, seven days aweek, taking on a role that enables the person theycare for to stay at home and live with the dignity,independence and security they deserve and which the rest of us often take for granted.

Equally, people taking on this role deserve the supportof Government and local services themselves to ensurethey are able to maintain their own quality of life.

Caring with Confidence is a collaborative approachbetween organisations with experience of deliveringcourses and supporting carers.

Caring with Confidence will provide essential support to carers to empower, inform and develop their skills.The Caring with Confidence Board is thrilled to beinvolved and pleased to be sharing the developmentsof this programme with you during this exciting time.”

Simon Knighton EPP CIC Chief Executive &Caring with Confidence Project Board Founding Chair

Page 3: Introducing caring with confidence

Introduction

Caring with Confidence,formerly known as expert carers programme(ecp), began in January2008. It is part of theGovernment’s New Deal for Carers and the renewed NationalCarers Strategy.

Throughout thedevelopment of theprogramme, consultationamongst carers hasbeen undertaken toinform decisions andthe direction ofthe programme.

The name Caring withConfidence was chosenfollowing researchcommissioned intocarers’ views about theirsituation, the concept ofa new carers programme,and the types of wordsthat resonate with them.

The purpose of thisreport is to give you anunderstanding of how theproject has developedsince the start of thecontract on 1 January2008 and the strategicdirection of Caring withConfidence over thecoming three years.

“We all needtraining and help.”

Page 4: Introducing caring with confidence

1.Until 30th August 2009, this target shall bethose caring for 20+ hours per week

Target groups

“It gave me confidenceknowing that I had the specific information I needed regarding thewellbeing of the person,and how to react anddeal with the angerwhich would sometimesbe displayed.”

What are our aims?

Caring with Confidenceruns group sessionswhich began to bedelivered in August2008. Self-study packsand online resources willbe made available fromJanuary 2009.

Our aim is to help carersmake a positivedifference to their lifeand that of the personthey care for. Carers willbe able to mix andmatch how they further

develop their knowledgeand skills - by takingpart in one or more free,local sessions, by usingthe self-study packs or by accessing theonline resources.

Caring with Confidencewill enhance andsupplement the trainingalready available andhelp to provide learningopportunities for carerswhere there is currentlylittle available.

And, carers of:

� disabled childrenor adults withcomplex needs

� people of black and minority ethnic heritage

� people living withmental ill-health

� people with dementia

� people with long-term conditions

� people nearing theend of life

� people who arelesbian, gay, bisexualor transgender.

Caring with Confidenceis aimed at adult carers,with particular emphasison target groupsspecified by theDepartment of Health.From October 2008, thetarget groups are:

Carers who are:

� in receipt of CarersAllowance (or carefor 35 hours perweek or more)1

� of black and minorityethnic heritage

� lesbian, gay, bisexual ortransgender.

The target is that, across the country, at least one third ofcarers who take part inCaring with Confidencewill be from the firstgroup and one third from the second group.The remaining third will be any adult carer. To reach these targets,we will work with localcommunity andcondition-specificgroups. We will alsodevelop tailoredprogrammes to meet the needs of these carers.

Page 5: Introducing caring with confidence

Understanding carers’ needs

The key findings of theresearch relating tothe delivery of theprogramme were:

� those caringbetween 35-49 hoursper week havesimilar issues tothose caring 50+hours. Furthermore,the emotional cost ofcaring is clearly notrelated to hoursspent caring perweek. Indeed formany, the more theyhave to jugglemultiple roles(caring, work,family), the greatertheir stress

� those caring for21-49 hours perweek showed themost interest in theconcept of Caringwith Confidence andthe least experienceof Caring withConfidence-typeprovision

To gain a thoroughunderstanding of carers’perspectives on trainingin general, their viewson existing provisionand to measure reactionto the idea of a newcarers’ programme, wecommissioned aresearch study inearly 2008.

The research comprised:

� an online survey of1,084 carersrepresentative of allEnglish regions

� six discussiongroups comprisingpeople who care for 50+ hours perweek, people whocare for 20+ hoursper week andoccasional carers.

� an interest in caringissues or kinshipwith other carerscannot be assumed.In fact 62 per cent ofpeople in a caringrole do not actuallyconsider themselvesa carer. There is alsoa conflict for manycarers between whatthey consider as‘my needs’ and‘their needs’

� 25 per cent of carersacknowledge thereis support availablebut feel they don’thave time to accessit. A further 34 percent feel the supportthat is currentlyavailable does notmeet their needs

� training sessions(both one-off andregular) that provideinteraction withexperts and areattended with othersin the same situationare most positivelyreceived by carers.

“I don’t need comforting;I need (me and my situation) to be understood.”

Page 6: Introducing caring with confidence

Knowledge of existing training

The first was sent toorganisations workingwith and for carers,condition-specificorganisations, PrimaryCare Trusts and LocalAuthorities who mayprovide training aimed at carers.

The second went toorganisations that mightprovide training onsubjects relevant tocarers and which mightbe covered by Caringwith Confidence.

As stated previously,Caring with Confidenceis designed to enhanceand supplement existingprovision rather thanreplace it. Therefore, oneof our first pieces ofwork was to undertake adetailed mappingexercise of trainingcurrently available tocarers and of theexisting providers. Wedid this by developingand distributingtwo questionnaires.

This could rangefrom guidance onmanaging finances toworkshops on buildingself-confidence.

Responses to thequestionnaires havehelped us to form apicture of the currentprovision acrossEngland and determinethe most appropriateway of rolling outthe programme.

sessions delivered bycarers’ supportworkers orexternal trainers

� the most commontopics covered are:carers’ own healthand wellbeing;empowerment; andpsychologicalaspects of caring

� carers who arelesbian, gay, bisexualor transgender orwho care for peoplewho are lesbian, gay,

From the responsesreceived, the North Eastand East Midlandsappear to have thelowest level of currentprovision, as well as ahigher than averagedensity of carers. We are therefore triallingCaring with Confidencein these areas prior tothe main rollout.

Other findings from themapping include:

� most training isface-to-face group

bisexual ortransgender haveleast provision aimedspecifically at them

� most training is nnoottfree of charge tocarers, althoughthe costs aregenerally minimal.

The mapping process is on-going and willenable us to gauge theimpact of Caring withConfidence on otherprovision for carersacross the country.

Page 7: Introducing caring with confidence

Development of session modules

were able to participatein one module and thenprovide feedback onits content, suitabilityand delivery.

The final modules are:

Finding Your WayHelps carers to look atwhat matters to themand which othersessions they mightwant to come along to.

Caring and CopingGives carers time andspace to look atemotions involved incaring and strategies tocope more effectivelywith stress.

Caring and MeHow to be fit for lifeand caring. Discussionand planning aroundcarers’ own healthand wellbeing.

Caring Day-to-DayLooks at the essentialsof looking aftersomeone day-to-day,from medication toemergencies at home.

Caring and ResourcesHow carers canmaximise their incomeand access otherresources which savethem money as a carer.

Caring and LifeInvites carers to taketime out and think abouthow to juggle competingdemands and how thecaring role fits with otheraspects of their life.

Caring andCommunicatingUses real-life caringsituations to help carersget the best fromcommunicating withother people.

A Core DevelopmentGroup, whose membershave a wealth ofexperience of beingcarers, working withcarers and writing anddelivering training in arange of environments,worked to develop thefirst seven genericcourse modules.

The material was trialledat a road-test event inJune 2008 where themodules were deliveredto carers by trainedfacilitators. The carers

“I realised how many more peopleare in the same position.”

Assuring quality

Development of Quality StandardsCaring with ConfidenceQuality Standards arebeing developed forcourse materials,facilitators and provideragencies to ensure thatthere is a consistentlyhigh standard ofprovision acrossthe country.

range of otherprogrammescomplementary toCaring with Confidencecontinues to be providedand carers can be directedto whatever is mostsuitable to their needs.

‘Benchmarking’Once the QualityStandards have beendeveloped, we will offera ‘benchmarking’ servicefor those who deliver‘Caring with Confidencetype’ training. This willgive confidence to bothcommissioners andcarers in these courses.It will ensure that a

Page 8: Introducing caring with confidence

What’s to come

supported throughout by the Caringwith Confidence National Team.

In order to widen the coverage ofCaring with Confidence across thecountry, we will also introduce a‘Caring with Confidence Licence’.Organisations which meet our QualityStandard for provider organisationswill be able to apply for a licence todeliver Caring with Confidenceprogrammes. The licence will enablethe organisations to receive Caringwith Confidence materials and to have an agreed number offacilitators trained.

Distance learningAttending face-to-face group sessionsis not always a feasible option forcarers. To ensure all carers haveaccess to learning, regardless ofwhere they live in England andwhether or not there are sessionsrunning in their local area, e-learningand self learning packs will beavailable from January 2009.

Carers will be able to mix and matchhow they further develop theirknowledge and skills - by taking partin one or more free, local sessions, byusing the self-study packs or byaccessing the online resources.

Tailored modulesOver the next few months, the genericmodules will be adapted and/orsupplemented to tailor them tomeet the needs of carers from ourtarget groups.

RolloutAn outline of how the sessions will berolled out across the country is setout below. For further information,please see our website:www.caringwithconfidence.net

We know from the research wecommissioned that carers wantsessions to be local and that, in orderto make a real impact, there has to berepeated delivery so that it becomesembedded in a community.

We plan to spread the availablefunding between about 20-25organisations across England, inareas that have higher than averagenumbers of carers from the targetgroups and lower than averagecurrent provision.

We will seek partner organisationsthat can demonstrate their area meetsthese criteria and that they are in aposition (either working alone or inpartnership with other localorganisations or community groups)to be able to recruit carers from thetarget groups to the sessions.

The funding will be for two to threeyears and will cover all costsincluding those incurred by carersattending the group sessions. We willtrain and support facilitators from ourpartner organisations. The partnerswill be responsible for all the localarrangements, including recruitment,choice of venues etc. They will be

“I think it was four years into the illness thatI really understood it and realised that weweren’t going to return to normal.”

Page 9: Introducing caring with confidence

Caring with ConfidenceCarrwood Park, Selby Road, Leeds, LS15 4LG

0113 385 [email protected]

www.caringwithconfidence.net

© Caring with Confidence