Needs and support assessment for Carers consultation

Overview

COVID-19 is continuing to be a difficult and challenging time. We know many of the people you care for have not been able to access the same level or type of support as usual.  This has resulted in many unpaid carers providing higher levels of support than they normally would in addition to managing the impact of wider COVID-19 restrictions. 

Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) is looking at changing the way we work with carers and the people that they care for to better identify and meet their needs.  Feedback from carers in 2018, was that we need to change what is available for carers to focus on providing more personalised support.  Providing more breaks for carers was their top priority.

Currently, following an assessment to find out if carers are eligible, the support options are quite limited.  Many carers are given a small one-off annual personal budget payment of between £150 or £200 and we need to consider how we can use this money differently to better support carers in a more individual way. A personal budget option will still be provided to those carers where it is jointly agreed that this best meets their needs.

We also want to improve how our staff have better conversations with carers to ensure we listen and identify what is important to them, so that more personalised and responsive support is provided. To do this we also, therefore, need to change the current carers assessment format. 

We have not made any decisions at this stage and would welcome your views.

Please take a few minutes to complete this questionnaire about some changes we are proposing to make.

The closing date for responses is 5pm on 5^th March 2021 and the results will be taken to Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee on 29^th March 2021 for a decision.