Carers Voice news

NHS Northamptonshire Clinical Commissioning Group has been given some funding by NHS England to be spent on a SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) related project for children and young people. It has been agreed that this funding will be used to develop a Northamptonshire Health Passport for children and young people with SEND. There are a number of different hospital passports available in Northamptonshire and this is a good opportunity to bring them all together and create a single document which can be used for both Hospital admissions and Health appointments eg. GP, Dentist, Optician.

As part of the project they have arranged some participation and feedback activities with CYP, parents/carers and professionals to look at an existing example of a Health Passport from another area to provide information on what they would like the Northamptonshire version to look like. Children and young people are being invited to participate in a school-based feedback activity.

View an example of a Health Passport from Brent, Ealing and Harrow. This works well within the local area and it is being used as a starting point to create a version that works well within Northamptonshire.

The questionnaire will be live and open for responses until 30th April.

Carers’ Voice meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month, between 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. We are currently meeting online using Zoom until further notice.

Dates of meetings for 2021 are:
14th January
11th February
11th March
8th April
13th May
10th June
8th July
12th August
9th September
14th October
11th November

Please email carersvoice@connectedtogether.co.uk or phone 07856 875132 (please leave a message) to find out more.

Add your name to their open letter to the Chancellor, calling for more support for unpaid carers to help them care safely during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the lives of carers and those they are caring for. A majority have had to provide extraordinary hours of care for loved ones with increasing needs during the crisis, often without the usual help from family and friends, and with limited or no support from local services.

It has left them exhausted and close to breaking point, that is why Carers UK are calling on the Government to provide more support to unpaid carers to help them through the COVID-19 pandemic.

To mark Carers Rights Day 2020, they have released new research which found that unpaid carers have provided £135 billion worth of care in the first 8 months of the COVID-19 pandemic– that means, each day during the pandemic, unpaid carers are saving the UK state a staggering £530 million in the care they provide.

Previous research shows that the two thirds of carers have not been able to take any breaks at all during the COVID-19 pandemic and this is impacting on carers physical and mental health, over half have seen their physical health impacted by caring through the pandemic, while 64% said their mental health has worsened. The majority (67%) are worried about how they will continue to care safely through the coming winter.

As a result, Carers UK are calling on Government to urgently provide unpaid carers with additional support and to give back to them by prioritising their health, well-being, and resilience through the COVID-19 pandemic.

To celebrate Carers Week 2020, Carers’ Voice have created a short video about the work we do to ensure carers views are heard by those providing health and social care services in Northamptonshire. The strength of Carers’ Voice comes from its members and we are always keen to hear from carers about their experiences.

If you are interested in joining Carers’ Voice or would like to let us know about your experiences, please get in touch by emailing us at carersvoice@connectedtogether.co.uk or find us on Facebook @ Carers’ Voice Northamptonshire

Nominations are now open for the 2020 Carers Awards. This annual celebration allows an opportunity to raise awareness and say ‘thank you’ to all Carers whilst highlighting those who have overcome additional challenges or have made an extra special difference.

Coronavirus and the subsequent lock-down has affected Carers more than most with many emotional calls to our Carers Support Line. Examples include, shielding alongside a loved one in an at risk group, shortages of essential food and supplies, financial difficulties and any respite being put on hold.

There are 70,000 unpaid carers in Northamptonshire all of which demonstrate amazing levels of dedication, love and support for friends and relatives with a disability, special needs, or a mental health condition. Every year, the Carers Awards allows us to recognise and thank Carers for all they do. Northamptonshire Carers are asking you to nominate someone who you feel has gone above and beyond to make an extra special difference. 

The categories for nominations are:

• Jane Roebuck Carer of the Year (18+)
• Young Carer of the Year (under 18)
• Shining Star (a professional, volunteer or team who have gone that extra mile to support carers i.e. teachers, social workers, volunteers etc)
• Working Carer of the Year (balancing unpaid caring role with paid employment)