A Carer's Lead is one of the practice staff who has been identified to take responsibility for this role. They could have any role in the practice i.e. be a receptionist, nurse, admin person or doctor
What Responsibilities does a Lead have?
Be in touch with Carers Recognition Worker giving name, email address and contact number, so they are added to Carer's Lead database
Keep staff aware and up dated on carers issues and concerns
Be the voice for carers within meetings and the surgery as a whole
Liaise with outside agencies and personnel with regards to carers issues and needs
Organise talks and training to keep all staff up to date
Order Carers Info Packs and other leaflets as necessary
Keep Carers Resource File and notice boards up to date
Encouraging self-identification in the surgery
There are a number of ways the practice can do this, including:
Carers’ own notice board in the waiting room
Notices on general notice boards
Forms or leaflets left in the waiting room
Electronic signs in the waiting room
Ordering and collection of repeat prescriptions to include a method of self referral
Communication
Many carers do not identify themselves as such. It is important to recognise that the language and descriptions and questions asked may encourage them to do so.
Tips on getting the best response to carer identification methods
To maximise self-identification through surgery notice boards, a carers’ notice board should:
Define ‘carer’ in simple terms, but with detailed examples of a range of typical carers’ situations, for those unaware of their status as ‘carer’;
Use language that people will identify with. For example:
Do you look after someone?
Are you a parent looking after a child who has a disability?
Do you help out a friend or relative?
Are you supporting someone?
Invite patients to make an appointment with the carers’ worker through the receptionist;
Invite patients to visit their local carers service; and
Invite patients to inform the carers’ support worker of their phone number.
On-going support and development for leads
Carer's leads can contact their local CRW for support, organise talks and training, help or just to chat about their role.
A bi-monthly newsletter will be sent out by email to keep Carer's Leads informed of news, changes, events and seminars. It will also highlight good practice.
Practice Carer's Leads in England can join a national network which will help and support them doing their work in their different practices.
They can join this network by sending a blank email to:carersleads-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
This network will provide you with the following:
membership of an email group where network members can ask other members questions and request resources, such as strategies, from other authorities (traffic is pre-moderated to ensure you are not deluged or spammed)
a short bi-monthly ebulletin on policy developments, good practice and funding streams
