The 'life-changing' service caring for Lancashire's invaluable carers

At a time when the government squeeze on public spending has resulted in a loss of funding for various social services, more and more people are finding themselves providing unpaid care, with the National Institute for Care Excellence estimating that there are 6.5 million unpaid carers in the UK saving the government £132bn a year in care costs.
The service provides a key resource for countless unpaid carersThe service provides a key resource for countless unpaid carers
The service provides a key resource for countless unpaid carers

More than 66% of carers say they rely on their own income and savings to cover the cost of providing this care, while two in five say they struggle to make ends meet as a result of the financial strain. Despite this situation, the current carer's allowance stands at just £66.15 a week or £1.89 an hour.

The Lancashire Carers Service, contracted by Lancashire County Council and Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Groups, is there to support those very same carers as they carry out their increasingly invaluable work. The service has identified almost 6,000 'hidden' carers over the last year and, in total, is supporting over 33,000 registered carers across the county.

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"It's imperative to have a dedicated carers' service because caring for a loved one is just what you do and, often, the first time people realise just how much they're doing and the impact that's having on them is when you speak to them about it," says Audra Higgin, Service Manager from Carers Link, which runs the service alongside charity n-compass. "We can be there to make sure that the impacts of caring are alleviated a bit and that they have the tools to navigate the available services.

Lancashire Carers' ServiceLancashire Carers' Service
Lancashire Carers' Service

"You see that just being listened to can make a huge difference; it lets people know it's okay to look after yourself as well as other people," adds Audra, from Burnley. "And the peer support from other carers is crucial as well as they know someone else is out there in the same situation. Staff get a lot out of the work and they take a great pride in doing the best that they can for people."

With 99% of carers saying that the service meets their needs, the carers' service aims to help relieve the negative impact that carrying out unpaid care can have, whilst also supporting paid carers in their increasingly-vital roles.

They do this by offering information and specialist support, both on a group and one-to-one basis, whilst also carrying out assessments in accordance with the Care Act 2014 so as to best appreciate the situation individuals are in. They also run a magazine, hold local events, and host coffee mornings to create a sense of community amongst carers.

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"When people find out there's a service for them, it's a massive relief because often people just cope on their own," explains Steve Varley, Service Manager from n-compass. "We get some great feedback from people who say that it's changed their lives and that they don't feel as alone as before.

Lancashire Carers' ServiceLancashire Carers' Service
Lancashire Carers' Service

"A lot of caring roles aren't too demanding to begin with but things develop and change and, before you know it, it's become like a full-time job and people can get to crisis point," adds Steve, from Blackpool. "It's a really rewarding job which offers tremendous job satisfaction because you're making a big difference to people's lives."

With plans already in place for the now-all-too-real prospect of a pandemic, the service has adapted smoothly to online-focused support. But that transition hasn't been without a degree of thinking on your feet, according to Audra. "Working from home has gone really well and, while there have been challenges, it's shown how resilient we are," she says.

Steve agrees. "We're very lucky to have a lot of very determined staff who will do whatever is needed to help people," he says. "We're always there for people who may be struggling."

For more information, please call 0345 688 7113 or visit www.ncompass.org.uk or www.carerslinklancashire.co.uk

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