Caring Well Engagement Page
Introduction to Carers:
The Caring Well Engagement Page has been put together to provide carers with information and resources as well as a space to share ideas, comments and thoughts.
This page will cover:
- Who we are?
- Who is this page for?
- Background
- Caring Well Strategy
- Help and Support for Carers?
- How can you get involved?
Who we are:
The Caring Well Partnership Group is a group of council employees from across different teams such as the adult social care (social workers, commissioners), public health, culture and leisure teams, engagement team along with services external to the council such as NHS, local carers organisations and Voluntary Services in Southend who provide services to Carers in Southend on Sea. This page includes information from these services to help achieve the outcomes outlined in the Caring Well Strategy.
Who is this page for
This page if for Carers (both paid and unpaid carers).
A carer can be someone who looks after someone with care and support needs some examples include, learning difficulties, mental health, autism, additional physical or sensory difficulty and people with additional needs.
Background
The council’s overall direction for adult social care is built on three core strategies named ‘Ageing Well’, ‘Caring Well’, and ‘Living Well’, setting out priorities over the next five years. The three strategies were co-designed with people who use services and their friends and families. They focus on how the council will support people across the city, whether they are older people, those with a care and support need with learning disabilities, mental health challenges, autism, living with additional physical or sensory difficulty, or the friends and family of people with additional needs.
Caring Well Strategy
Our ‘Caring Well’ strategy is a joint strategy with health colleagues that focuses on the needs of unpaid carers, sometimes called ‘hidden carers’, which can be children or adults that find themselves in a position caring for a family member, partner or friend. These carers play a significant role in preventing the need for a more formal care provision, and the health and social care system relies on this unpaid support. Priorities and action plans within this strategy focus on the priority areas of:
- identifying, respecting and valuing carers
- providing suitable information and support
- developing carers, knowledge and understanding
- assessing carers needs
- maintaining carers balance by connecting with communities and being able to take a break
- recognising health and wellbeing needs,
- helping carers stay in, enter or return to work education or training (if appropriate)
being prepared for changes and encouraging integration and partnership working to meet people’s needs.
Help and Support for Carers
There are a variety of different teams that can support carers in your caring role. For example:
Carers First: are a council commissioned service who are able to provide information, advice and support to carers living in Southend.
- Website: https://www.carersfirst.org.uk/southend-on-sea/welcome/
- Phone: 0300 303 1555
- Email: hello@carersfirst.org.uk
Southend on Sea City Council: adult social care team and provide social care support for carers in Southend,
- Website: https://www.southend.gov.uk/help-advice-carers
- Phone: During working hours (9am – 5pm): 017022 15008 / Out of hours Emergency Duty Team: 0845 606 1212
- Email: AccessTeam@southend.gov.uk
Financial Support and advice:
If carers would like support with benefits or financial support, please contact Citizens Advice Southend enquiry form. Where appropriate, this will then be shared with the councils benefits team to contact and provide support.
How can you get involved - Carers Lived Experience Group?
Carers lived experience group, is a group of carers who meet monthly with the Strategic Commissioning Team at Southend City Council. Each month we discuss different topics, working with carers to start new initiatives, get feedback on how the services are currently working, and ways we can help support carers further. This group is also a good opportunity to find out about different activities happening across Southend on Sea and overall a safe space for carers to meet and talk. The meetings are held on the first Tuesday every month on at Priory Park Visitors Centre between 12-1pm.
If you would like to attend, please email: strategiccommissioning@southend.gov.uk
If you would like to be involved or have any questions, please email Strategic Commissioning team at strategiccommissioning@southend.gov.uk or contact us on 01702 212464 (Tasnima) or 01702 215710 (Tracey).
