A new carers’ charter aimed at making sure local carers feel valued and heard has been launched in Norfolk.
Co-produced by carers and staff at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT), the charter was unveiled at the Trust’s AGM at the Forum in Norwich.
What’s in the charter?
Carers play a vital role, contributing the equivalent of £445 million per day in unpaid care, yet they often don’t know their rights or receive the support they need.
The new charter makes commitments to carers from NSFT on a range of measures including recognising and valuing carers, communicating clearly, involving carers in decision making and giving them practical and emotional support. It’s hoped this will help guide staff in better identifying and upholding carers’ rights.
‘Overlooked, undervalued and excluded’
Julie Williams, Carers lead at NSFT, said: “Carers have told us they often feel overlooked, undervalued and excluded, especially during times of crisis and our data reflects this concern.
“Figures last October showed more than half of our assessment forms did not record a named carer and only 4% identified a main carer in the system. This gap makes it harder to offer the right support.
“As we implement the charter, we expect to uncover wider system challenges. We will raise these with senior leaders, work with partners to find solutions and keep carers informed, so that trust and transparency are at the heart of our approach”.
Working together
Carer and service user Debbie Brown is one of those who been involved from the beginning of the project, sharing her thoughts and ideas along the way.
Debbie said: “So often people become carers not knowing what to expect or what we may be entitled to from the hospital trust and the care that person receives.
“This puts all the information in one place so it can be easily accessed to help carers and the hospital carry out their roles with a deeper understanding of how they can work together.”
Chair of NSFT Zoë Billingham said: “It has been very impressive to see carers and Trust staff working together on this important project and we are looking forward to seeing it put into operation to help carers get the best from NSFT.”