North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus is inviting carers and professionals to give their views as part of a review of the national carers strategy.
The CTP, in partnership with the NEL Carers Centre (part of the George Hardwick Foundation) and North East Lincolnshire Council, is holding three drop-in consultation events where professionals and carers can come along and give their views on what they believe are the priorities for carers that the CTP should be feeding back to the Government.
The Government is seeking evidence on what actions are most likely to deliver the strategy’s main outcomes and therefore what the priorities are to focus on in the next four years.
Nicola Pullman, carers development manager, said: “These sessions will provide professionals and carers with the opportunity to come along and give their views on what they believe are the priorities for carers which will form the basis of our response to the government.
“I would encourage anyone who has an interest in caring to come along to one of the events.”
The previous Government’s national carers strategy ‘Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities’ was originally published in June 2008.
It set out a vision that by 2018: “Carers will be universally recognised and valued as being fundamental to strong families and stable communities. Support will be tailored to meet individuals’ needs, enabling carers to maintain a balance between their caring responsibilities and a life outside caring, while enabling the person they support to be a full and equal citizen.”
As part of the process for informing the national spending review, the Government must prioritise its actions for the next four years to ensure maximum value for money in the context of the current economic climate and the Government’s top priority of reducing the national deficit.
The Government is therefore refreshing the carers strategy with a view to producing, before the end of this year, a clear plan of action for 2011 to 2015. This will set out the key activities on which the Government, working in partnership with local authorities, the NHS, employers, the voluntary sector, local communities and carers can focus from April 2011 onwards.
The sessions will be held at North East Lincolnshire Carers Centre (part of the George Hardwick Foundation), 154 -160 Victoria Street, Grimsby on:
- Monday, September 13: 10am – 1pm
- Tuesday, September 14: 1pm – 4pm
- Wednesday, September 15: 4pm – 7pm
Complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided throughout the sessions.
If you are not able to attend one of the drop-in sessions but would like to give your views, please telephone the carers team on (01472) 629162 or email nicola.pullman@nelctp.nhs.uk