Summary

Family carers support family and friends who need extra help because of illness or disability. Family carers play an important and sometimes difficult role. To help them, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council (SBC) pay a local charity to deliver support and information for carers. 

To make sure the support and information is what carers want and need, we asked carers, their friends and family some questions. We asked carers questions that will help us to understand if there is anything we could be doing differently or better to support family carers. 

How we asked the questions

The survey (how we asked the questions) was available online. Paper copies of the survey were available but were not used very much. We could not ask people the questions face to face because of coronavirus and the lockdown. The survey was available online from the 24 February 2020 to the 21 June 2020. 204 people did the survey. The survey was advertised online, through websites, social media, through various voluntary and community organisations, SBC, Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and through service teams. 

Who do carers provide care for and for how long?

• most of the people who did the survey had been caring for over one year but less than three years (23%). Closely followed by people who had been caring for over five years but less than 10 years (21%)

• many people who responded to the survey spent 100 hours or more per week looking after or helping the person/people they care for (24%)

• most people cared for people over the age of 80 (35%)

• the main condition of the primary person people care for is dementia (34), followed by Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (26)

Carers Views and Experiences - Key findings

We asked the open-ended question: What has been your experience of accessing help and support to look after your own physical health, emotional wellbeing, and mental health? 

Of the many answers, the top 10 themes identified were: 

Table 1

Carers health has been negatively affected by their caring role. In the past 12 months people who answered our survey said: 

• 85% feel tired
• 80% general feelings of stress
• 67% disturbed sleep
• 66% disturbed sleep
• 59% feel depressed 
• 50% are short tempered / irritable
• 40% physical strain (e.g. back)
• 35% had to see their GP
• 30% made existing conditions worse
• 24% developed health condition
• 18% loss of appetite

Who Answered the Questions? 

People who answered the questions in the survey could share extra information about themselves.

• 91% were from white, English, Welsh, Scottish or Northern Irish ethnicity
• 71% were female

Chart 1

Chart 2:

When we compare the people, who answered the survey to all the carers in Southend on Sea, there was low engagement from some groups of carers. We need to do more to listen to carers who are:

• male
• do not describe themselves as male or female
• carers aged between 18-24 and 40-49
• people who do not identify as white or English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish
• LGBT+ (although note that we got a good representation from people who are bisexual)
• self-employed 
• those in full time education
• unemployed

Next Steps

The answers to the questions show us that carers in Southend on Sea face many challenges but want different types of support to help them in their caring role. There is not going to be one type of support that helps all carers so we must make sure there are different and flexible things available in Southend.

By the end of November 2020, we will have a plan of how we are going to improve support for carers in Southend for the next 18 months. The answers to these questions will help make this plan. The survey will also be used to help us inform what new services we pay for will look like when we buy new carers support services in the new year. 

A full report on the survey is also available, if you would be interested in receiving a copy of the report please contact integratedcommissioning@southend.gov.uk to request a copy of the Southend Family Carers Survey – Full Report.

Southend Carers Professional Survey 

2020 – Key Findings Summary 

Introduction

Family carers support family and friends who need extra help because of illness or disability. Family carers play an important and sometimes difficult role. To help them, Southend-On-Sea Borough Council (SBC) pay a local charity to deliver support and information for carers. 

To make sure the support and information is what carers want and need, we asked people who work with carers some questions. We asked questions that will help us to understand if there is anything we could be doing differently or better to support family carers. 

How we asked the questions 

The survey (how we asked the question) was available online. The survey was available online from the 4 May 2020 and closed 21 June 2020. 89 professionals (people who work with carers) responded to the survey. 

Who answered the questions? 

Lots of different professionals answered the questions. Most people who answered the questions worked in social care. 

Table 1: The type of jobs people do

Key Findings

The top five services professionals find the most useful for carers in Southend-on-Sea:

• Benefit and financial advice - 58 responses
• Carers emergency respite scheme - 57 responses
• Dementia Community Support Team - 51 responses
• Information, advice and guidance from Carers Hub - 50 responses
• Ad hoc respite - 48 responses

Chart 1: Gaps and barriers to providing support for carers 

Data Table for Chart 1

Chart 2: Top five support professionals would like to see more of for carers 

Data Table for Chart 2

Chart 3: Carers Assessments 

Data Table for Chart 3

Chart 4: Early Identification of Carers

Data Table for Chart 4

Chart 5: Personalisation

Data Table for Chart 5

Next Steps 

The expertise shared by professionals highlight the importance of good communication – with carers and between professionals. Speaking and listening to each other will improve how professionals work with carers which will improve carers experiences and their personal journey. Regular opportunities for carers to rest and take a break from their caring is clearly a priority for professionals. Raising the profile of carers across the community, improving people’s understanding and respect for the role of being a carer is also an area we must improve on. 

By the end of November 2020, we will have a plan of how we are going to support carers in Southend. The answers to these questions will help make this plan. The survey will also be used to help us inform what any new services we pay for will look like when we buy new carers support services in the new year. 

 A full report on the survey is also available, if you would be interested in receiving a copy of the report please contact integratedcommissioning@southend.gov.uk to request a copy of the Southend Carer Professional Survey – Full Report.