Information from the last Census shows that, while over 21,000 people in Southwark identify themselves as Carers, only a third of these are known to statutory and voluntary services. The real number of Carers who are not receiving any support is likely to be even higher – a third of those surveyed did not identify themselves as Carers for the first five years in which they had a caring role. Access to services was precipitated by the cumulative effect of caring without support and a crisis in their lives. This crisis often results in them facing a huge raft of problems.

The Carer’s Health Workers aim to find as many of the “hidden” Carers (those not known to services who could help them) in Southwark as possible, to make sure they are aware of the support that is available to them and how to access this support.

Carer’s Health Workers will be able to meet Carers at their local GP surgery or other healthcare or community setting.

We will complete a diagnostic of the carer’s needs and can refer or signpost them to other services around the borough and nationally that can assist them. We can provide direct access to advocacy, information on your rights as a Carer, peer support, support groups, activity groups, counselling and other therapies, grants, volunteering opportunities. We also provide referrals to carer’s assessments and specialist one to one information and advice.

We hope that by meeting Carers before they encounter major problems or experience a crisis, and making them aware of the support available to them, we can help to prevent future problems and crises arising. Empowering Carers to carry on in their caring role for as long as possible.

We also aim to prevent Carers from being/becoming isolated.

In addition to this, we aim to make Health and Social Care services more aware of the role, the value and importance of Carers, so that they recognise the needs of Carers and do more to assist them and improve the quality of their lives.