VISION FOR CARERS
What we are hoping for
is the empowerment of users and carers through:
- full partnership in the decision making process
- meaningful and comprehensive consultation
- recognition that all partners have an equal part to play.
- openness, and a mutual respect for one another
- consistent and regular two way dialogue
- sharing and caring together
- independence and interdependence
- recognition of the financial contribution carers make to the community
- an opportunity to represent ourselves
- agreeing the goalposts together
- best value and real choice
- accurate available and understandable information
- flexible, varied and responsive support and respite
Some key words for carers
Carers and service users need:
- Accessibility
- Communication
- Community awareness
- Consideration
- Consultation
- Continuity
- Co-ordination
- Frankness
- Funding
- Independence
- Information
- Interdependence
- Openness
- Partnership
- Representation
- Resources
- Respite
- To be valued
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Carers and service users would like:
- Choice
- Creative options
- Empowerment
- Equal status
- Equity
- Respect
- Recognition
- Responsive services
- Support
- Training
- Trust
- To be appreciated
- To be consulted
- To be enabled
- To be involved
- To be listened to
- To participate
- To represent themselves
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Who is not a Real Carer?
It needs to be acknowledged that support for carers is often inadequate and in short supply with limitations and restrictions because the paid workers who ‘give’ the support are employed and not always available.
What is clear to all people in the middle of their caring role is that paid workers are not carers.
They may be caring people who love their job and give 110% to the role or they may be people doing the job to earn money. BUT they can all walk away when they wish; are not emotionally tied; are not physically tied and they can take a day off, go off sick or take a holiday whenever they like. They are employed and paid to do the job they undertake.
Real Carers do the job for nothing and save the government and the population from having to supply, pay and share the limited care services.
Real Carers offer more than just a physical or regular/24hour support service - they are emotionally involved with the person at different levels according to the relationship – but unable to walk away when it suits them because of those ties.
PARTNERSHIP -
The Carers Perspective
| P |
Partnership in Planning |
| A |
Ask us what we want |
| R |
Respect our views |
| T |
Two-way dialogue |
| N |
Negotiate with us |
| E |
Equal partnership at all levels |
| R |
Recognition |
| S |
Sharing and caring |
| H |
Hear what users and carers say |
| I |
Information |
| P |
Planning in Partnership |
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