Oxfordshire Carers’ strategy 2009-2012

• Oxfordshire Carers’ strategy 2009-12 (.pdf format, 1.1Mb)

Partner organisations are asked to set out their own action plans in support of the strategy and to report on progress to the Carers Strategy Steering Group. Additional plans will be added as they are developed. 

• Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust (.pdf format, 20Kb)
• Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust glossary of terms (.pdf format, 19Kb)
• Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust (.pdf format, 37Kb)
• Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (.pdf format, 33Kb)
• JobcentrePlus (.pdf format, 34Kb)
• Equality Impact Assessment - EQIA (pdf format, 76Kb)

Oxfordshire has a separate Young Carers strategy 2008-13 which also links to the overall Carers strategy.

• Young Carers strategy 2008-13 (.pdf format, 67 Kb)

The Carers and employment in Oxfordshire report helps to inform strategic developments.

• Carers and employment in Oxfordshire report (.pdf format, 153 Kb)

Background

There is a new National Carers’strategy, Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities: a caring system on your side, a life of your own.

The Oxfordshire Carers Strategy has been developed with reference to this strategy, to local policies, and also through wide consultation with a range of Carers, Carers’ organisations and statutory and voluntary partner organisations. The issues raised through the 2008 Oxfordshire Carers’ strategy workshop have been prioritised in the action plans at the end of the document.

In line with the new national strategy and priorities in Oxfordshire, our main objectives are to provide support for carers around 6 themes:

• opportunities for a break
• information and Communication
• health and wellbeing
• a life of your own: work (and financial security), education, training and leisure
• having a voice
• equality.

National Carers' Strategy

The new National Carers' Strategy sets out the Government's short-term agenda and long-term vision for the future care and support of carers.

It is underpinned by £255 million to implement some immediate steps alongside medium and long-term plans.

New commitments

New commitments in the carers’ strategy include:

• £150 million towards planned short breaks for carers
• £38 million towards supporting carers to enter or re-enter the job market
• £6 million towards improving support for young carers

Other schemes include the piloting of annual health checks for carers and training for GPs to recognise and support carers.   A more integrated and personalised support service for carers will be offered through easily accessible information, targeted training for key professionals to support carers, and pilots to examine how the NHS can better support carers.

National Carers Strategy, summary and local implementation

This November 2008 briefing sets out a summary of the new national Carers' Strategy and implications for current and planned work in Oxfordshire 2009/10.

• Summary and local implications (.pdf format, 46Kb)

Further information is available from Marcia Davis, Carers Development Officer, Oxfordshire County Council on marcia.davis@oxfordshire.gov.uk or 07825-314768. 

Carers Direct

As part of the National Strategy for Carers, a new online information service for carers provides carers with a single and comprehensive online resource for carer information including: guidance on the different stages of caring, information on benefits, advice for young carers, contact details for local authorities and support groups, news articles, and case studies with videos. This will be further developed to include email enquiry and online communities and forums.

A Carers Direct telephone helpline is available: Freephone: 0808 802 02 02.