AQW 23030/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 23/09/2021
Answered On Date: 21/10/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health (i) what actions he is taking to support carers; and (ii) whether he has instructed Health and Social Care Trusts to reach out to unpaid and unregistered carers to ensure their mental health is being supported while day centre and respite care is still not widely available.

Answer:

My Department responded to the pandemic situation by introducing a number of initiatives to support carers. We facilitated the development of a carers ID card to assist carers when shopping or exercising during the lockdown periods; we provided additional resources to Carers NI so their advice line could operate extended hours; and we ensured every home in Northern Ireland received a leaflet setting out how to access the support that is available for carers.

I was pleased earlier this year to be able to establish a new £4.4 million scheme to support unpaid carers. There has never before been funding of this scale available to support carers in Northern Ireland. I am pleased that significant funding has already been awarded to projects under the Fund which will support real improvements in the lives and experiences of individual carers.

My Department has also ensured that carers are provided with relevant and accurate information, through the publication of specific guidance for unpaid/informal carers on 10 April 2020 which was last updated on 9 July 2021. This is available at:

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/advice-informal-unpaid-carers-and-young-carers-during-covid-19-pandemic

This guidance includes a comprehensive list of services and links to assist people with their emotional health and wellbeing.

Throughout the pandemic each Trust has continued to grow and adapt its services to provide further support for carers through the use of online activities, increasing information available, and the provision of one off sessions. These programmes of support and activities assist and encourage carers to maintain their health and wellbeing. These sessions are regularly offered and have included online sessions and face to face events where they can be safely discharged alongside current COVID-19 regulations. Sessions have been offered on stress and anxiety management, relaxation techniques, pilates, yoga, Look Feel Good workshops, and specific caring for the carer courses.

Trusts have continued to adjust and develop their services offered to support carers further. For example Belfast Health & Social Care Trust established Listening Ear services through which carers have been provided with reassurance, and practical and emotional support. Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, South Eastern Health and Social Trust and Lifeline have also partnered on a pilot to offer additional specialist support in relation to their mental health. This has enabled the provision of one to one counselling sessions for carers which has proven to be a valuable and beneficial resource.

Carers have been pro-actively contacted by key workers to ensure they have the support they require in their caring role and, where necessary, additional support and/or advice. Trusts also disseminate regular information to keep unpaid carers informed of support and services. For example the Northern Trust Carer hub, which acts as a central point of contact for carers and staff, had over 23,000 contacts with carers and staff by telephone or email in 2020/21. Many previously unidentified carers have also come forward through the Covid vaccination programme and this contingent have since been signposted to other supports.

Throughout the period Carer's assessments and reassessments have continued to be offered, and these include a consideration of mental wellbeing.

Ongoing practical support has been provided more generally such as assisting with shopping, offering a sitting service and meeting people for ongoing mental health support. In instances where daycare and/or short breaks were not available, additional supports were put in place, for example via existing or new Direct Payments, with additional flexibility for service users and resource allocation agreed on a case-by-case basis.