The Time for You Project
“A Family Carer is someone of any age whose life is restricted because they are looking after another person who cannot manage without help because of illness, age related frailty, mental health need, or disability. Family Carers are not paid and do not always live with the person they care for. They may be caring for a friend, neighbour or relative”
Family Carer Rights, Suffolk County Council 2009
The Funders
Background
In 2009 Suffolk County Council were successful in gaining funds from the Department of Health to become a department of health demonstrator site (Short Breaks for Family Carers). This project will identify Family Carers who, for a variety of reasons, are unable or reluctant to access current short break provision. It will identify the type of services that would enable them to gain a short break from their caring role in a way that meets their social and cultural needs.
Suffolk County Council is working with Turning Point, as part of the Connected Care initiative, Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk Acre to undertake research and ongoing community development work to identify and support family carers within their local communities.
We have recruited local people, including five family carers, and have trained them up to become community researchers. These carers will speak to up to 200 family carers in Brandon about their caring role, their feelings around it and most importantly about the kind of breaks that would help them.
Outcomes
This approach will identify local issues and solutions, drawing on and developing local resources and networks where possible. In year 2, a group will be set up in each project area to identify the types of Short Breaks that will be developed.
Time for You - click here to read the final report
Steering Group Project Manager
Kate Jones, Senior Research Advisor, Turning Point
