With the growth in the number of pandemic flu cases, it is likely that there will be greater demand on Carers’ centres in that existing carers will require increased levels of support, and more people will find themselves in a caring role having to look after flu sufferers.

Existing carers might ask for more help because:

• They have flu themselves;
• The needs of the person being cared for have increased since contracting flu;
• They need to look after someone else who has flu in addition to the person for whom they usually care. 

How Southwark Carers is preparing for a Flu Pandemic

• Carers should check that the support package for them and the person for whom they care contains contingency plans.  If there is no support package in place, the carer should seek a review of the relevant community care plans and carer’s assessment.  The individual social care record should include details about the daily caring tasks so that the information can be given to anyone who has to take over a person’s care at short notice.
• Carers should use their Planning for Emergencies Pack provided by Southwark Carers or request one from us, (help will be given to fill in the details if required).
• Carers should be encouraged to discuss contingency plans with family, friends and neighbours who agree to be on standby so that they can help by collecting antiviral medication, prescriptions, shopping or taking on caring responsibilities. Should the carer require help with approaching family or potential flu friends Southwark Carers can help with this.
• A letter is being sent to every GP in Southwark reminding them of the necessity to identify carers and keep an up to date register, essential in the event of a flu pandemic. Southwark Carers are reaching out to hidden carers, not registered with us or their GP to come forward.  Our Forum on 15th September entitled ‘Hidden and Invisible’ encourages Carers to bring a ‘hidden’ carer with them 
• It is possible that a huge strain will be put on social and health services, only those most critical people will be assessed by Social Services.  Southwark Carers will help carers assess their own needs and understand currently available services.
• If you feel unwell or someone in our household is diagnosed with Swine Flu and you wish to contact us please telephone rather than visiting us.

In the event that our offices should close we will put other carer centre telephone numbers on our website for emergency carer support and advice.

Did you know that 20,000 local people have given up personal time and freedom to care for a family member, partner or friend?

Three out of five Southwark residents will be carers at some point in their lives – but despite this, carers often face a lack of recognition in all areas of their lives, and as a result can struggle with their finances, health, job, social life and general wellbeing.

Many people do not see themselves as carers and are missing out on support and information that will help them in their role. The council funds a range of services for carers, including a needs assessment to establish respite and other needs.

Our latest forum focuses on hidden and invisible carers, with advice on how to identify yourself to the health service and social services.

Speakers at this event include:

Dr. Nick Hervey – Head of Social Care, Southwark Integrated Adult Mental Health Service

Alison Ewen – Manager, Kings College Hospital Discharge Team

Chris Neate – Manager, St. Thomas’ Hospital Discharge Team

Please ring 020 7708 4497 to book. If you are bringing another person please book them in too. 

Tuesday 15th September

10.30am for an 11am start until 3.30pm

At Gilroy Hall, Cambridge House

The government has published the long awaited Care and Support green paper, calling for a much-needed reform to care services in England.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham outlined three options for the future funding and support of a care system which would provide “a pathway to protecting peoples’ houses and investment in retirement”.

Firstly, the green paper proposes a partnership model by which a quarter or a third of costs would be covered by the State, with the individual left to top up the remainder of their care.

The second option involves a voluntary insurance scheme promising a minimal level of free basic care with the Government helping to establish insurance systems to provide cover for the extra costs.

Finally, the Minister detailed the third and perhaps most controversial proposal of a comprehensive system whereby people would be required to pay up to £20,000 on retirement to fund their social care package.

In his speech, the Minister paid tribute to carers recognising “the intolerable pressures” that many carers face and acknowledging their huge contribution calling them the “bedrock” of social care.

Alex Fox, Director of Policy and Communications with The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, welcomed the proposals:

“We are pleased to see that the green paper recognises the unfairness of the current system for carers and acknowledges that, given the commitment of families, they should no longer have to take on an unreasonable caring role”.

“The green paper highlights the importance of delivering the National Carers Strategy as part of a fairer system, however it does less to reassure carers that they will no longer find themselves contributing unsustainable, high levels of care, whilst at the same time finding themselves contributing significant financial resources against the cost of care.”

“We are one of the few countries in Western Europe which gives families less the more that carers provide. We have to find ways of valuing the contributions of carers properly if we are to continue to rely on carers for an increasing amount of our national care services.”

Are you concerned about your fuel bills or how you will keep your home warm this winter?  If so, Southwark Carers are offering a new service that can help – Southwark EnergyCare.

This scheme has been set up to provide carers in Southwark with a range of services aimed at tackling fuel poverty and increasing knowledge and awareness of energy efficiency within the home.  Carers are at higher risk of falling into fuel poverty (defined as occurring when a household spends over 10% of its income on energy bills) as they often they will have a lower income and spend a greater amount of time in their homes than non-carers.

Through Southwark EnergyCare you will be able to access:

A free energy saver pack – filled with useful information, contacts and ideas that will help you to save energy and reduce your fuel bills.

Free one-to-one advice sessions with the Southwark EnergyCare advisor who can help you to identify where you can save energy in your home and provide advice if you are struggling with bills.

A free podcast which explores the measures that can be taken within the home to reduce energy consumption.

Emergency fuel repayments for carers who are in imminent danger of having their gas or electricity supply cut off.

These services will be available to carers from mid-September 2009 onwards.  The Southwark EnergyCare scheme also provides training to other carer organisations, giving them with the skills required to identify carers who may be finding it difficult to meet their energy bills or keep their home warm.

For more information about Southwark EnergyCare, please contact John Wyles on 020 7708 4506

Charities are demanding a better deal for the nation’s carers with the launch of a Carer Poverty Charter.

Carers UK and other major charities including The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Caring for Carers, have drawn up a Carer Poverty Charter, demanding better benefits for carers, including an increase on Carer’s Allowance which currently stands at just £53.10 per week.

The charter calls for an end to carer poverty and for the government to set out a timetable of action to improve carers’ benefits and income. It states that the benefits system must protect people from falling into poverty or financial hardship as a result of their caring role.

In addition, the benefits system needs to be easy to understand and straightforward for carers to claim. A recent National Audit Office report revealed that one-third of carers found the application process difficult.

Carers UK Chief Executive, Imelda Redmond, explained: “Many families are running down their assets, not saving for their own futures, not saving for their pensions and going into their old age in poverty. It’s an outrage.”

The Department for Work and Pensions said in a statement that carers will be considered as part of wider benefits reform: “We want to create a system of carers’ benefits that is able to provide effective support where it is most needed and that can adapt to the extensive range of needs that carers have.”

In the National Strategy for Carers launched last year, the government has promised that by 2018 ‘carers will be supported so that they are not forced into financial hardship by their caring role’.

The charities so far supporting the charter are The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Alzheimer’s Society, Carers UK, Counsel and Care, Crossroads Caring for Carers, Every Disabled Child Matters, Mencap, Rethink, Vitalise.

It is hoped that over the next few months more national and local charities , as well as individuals will sign up to support the call to end carer poverty.

If you would like to join the call for an end to carer poverty you can join in the support for the Carers Charter.

You can find more details about the wording of the Carter and  sign the petition online, you can click here for all the details.

If you cannot get online but would still like to support the Charter then please call us on 020 7708 4497 and we will send you a copy