There are at least 65,000 unpaid carers in Manchester. While some of these carers are already known to social care teams – and have accessed their carers assessment – the big majority are not identified.
Where social care staff are working with a client/service user, it is highly likely that the person will also have a family member or friend who is their main carer.
By encouraging carers to identify themselves, and by linking them to information and support, social care staff can help create better outcomes for service users and help reduce carer breakdown.
Social work staff should be doing the following to ensure carers have the best support available in Manchester:
- Check that carer awareness is high among social care teams
- Ensure that carers’ assessments are carried out by staff with a carer support role, and that assessments are followed up with support plans
- Monitor the numbers of carers being newly identified and record these, to help build up accurate data about carers in Manchester
- Track carers records to analyse whether carers are getting the information, help and support they need
- Work with voluntary sector organisations who can support and advise carers
To refer an unwaged carer to Contact Point, please complete the form, by clicking on the button below, and email it to contactpoint@carersmanchester.org.uk. A support worker will then contact the carer direct. For information about the short-term support we offer, and the longer-term support we can signpost carers to, take a look at our What We Do section.
Further Information