Posted on: 25 May 2021
West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership is set to support Carers Week 2021, which is taking place from 7 –13 June with the theme Make Caring Visible and Valued.
Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlighting the challenges unpaid carers face and recognising the valuable contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.
There are an estimated 325,000 (Carers UK) unpaid carers living in West Yorkshire and Harrogate and among this figure are many children and young people who care for parents with long-term health conditions. This number is expected to rise.
Many don’t identify with the word ‘carer’ and, as a result, feel invisible and unaware of the support that is available for them.
Throughout this important week, West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership will be sharing various resources to build on the great work taking place from local carers organisations in Bradford district and Craven, Calderdale, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield.
Recent work includes the development of a carers vaccine agreement across the area. Local carers organisations worked alongside councils to enable carers to register with their local carer organisation to receive a vaccine. This enabled over 50,000 of carers to be reached who would have not come forward.
Other work includes the launch of a Young Carers Support App to help young carer to access information on how to look after their health and wellbeing as well as support available to them in their caring role.
Pre-pandemic, 1 in 7 workers juggled work and unpaid care for a disabled, older, or ill relative or friend. During the pandemic, this went up to one in five.
Now more than ever, it’s important that we continue to support our workforce by offering flexible working where possible. The Partnership has produced a short video helping to raise awareness of the many struggles in the life of a working carer.
NHS England and Improvement have created the Primary Care Quality Markers which include guidance and practical ideas that have been developed in partnership with carers and health teams, including GPs. The aim is to help general practice staff identify and support carers of all ages, encouraging them how they can easily embed quality markers into daily practice.
Karen Jackson and Richard Parry are co-chairs of West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership Carers Programme Board. Karen, who is also CEO for Locala Community Partnership said:
"Reaching out to carers has never been more important. We know from speaking to local organisations across West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership and from national surveys that the impact of COVID-19 has been significant. it’s crucial they know where to turn for help, and they feel valued and visible to all who can support them."
Richard, who is also the Strategic Director for Health and Care at Kirklees Council, said:
"Unpaid carers have done an amazing job before and during the pandemic with many finding themselves with increased caring responsibilities. Some young carers and young adult carers have spent less time spent at school, in college or with friends, whilst working carers have found their home-life balance blurred. At the same time, we do know that organisations have more acutely understood their responsibilities to better support carers. Carers Week is real opportunity to help carers feel more visible, to let people know that services are there to help and to start to co-produce future health and care arrangements."
Rob Webster CBE, CEO Lead for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership said:
"Our area has been among the hardest hit by COVID-19, and we have been hit for a sustained period. This means most carers haven't had a break from caring since March 2020, leaving many of them tired and worried about the future. We are working closely with carers groups to address this through more joined up care and support. In addition, as part of Carers Week we will be releasing free resources which are available to support young carers, working carers, and those looking for support in the hope it will help make their lives that little bit better."
West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership is asking everyone to support raising the profile of unpaid carers by checking in on those who care for others to see if they can help.