Toolkit: Identifying & Supporting Carers in Primary Care
This toolkit has been developed to make it as easy as possible for you to embed carer friendly approaches in your surgery. If you have any questions or would like some guidance, please contact the Primary Care Engagement Team who will be very willing to support you.
Who are carers and why should you help them?
How to implement carer identification and support in Primary Care
We have focused on six pillars that underpin effective carer friendly practice in Primary care. If each of these are put in place, a GP surgery will have solid foundations on which to build good carer identification and support. Each of these areas of practice are important and interconnected. Use the buttons below to access simple information and resources, which you can download, to help you implement good practice.
Our team are here to help you make this as easy and possible. You can book a meeting with us to review what you are doing now and to put together tailor made and simple steps to increase carer identification and support.
Contact the Primary Care team
1. Name a Carers Lead
A Carers Lead is a named person who is responsible for carers within a GP practice.
2. Ensure all staff are carer aware
A third of carers take 3 years or more to self-identify, yet the implications of caring can be significant and enduring. Identifying them early can prevent issues escalating.
3. Make information available and accessible to carers
Ensure your digital and hard copy information areas have relevant information for carers of all ages.
4. Keep an up to date and purposeful carers register
A Carers register is a list or database that records which patients have unpaid caring responsibilities.
5. Define a Carers Offer and communicate it
Define your offer to carers (even if it is limited) and make it clear how carers can access support from you.
6. Partner CSWS to deliver wider emotional and practical support
Work with your local carers support service so that carers can be routed through to wider community support.
Carers Support West Sussex have been funded by the Integrated Care Board to work with Primary Care partners and help identify and support carers.
Supporting Carers in Primary Care has been developed in alignment with NHS England’s Quality Markers for Unpaid Carers and reflect the principles contained in NICE’s quality standard on supporting adult carers. GP surgeries can use the evidence of this work to prepare for CQC inspection and show their commitment to carers.