Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities: a caring system on your side, a life of your own (Executive Summary) sets out the Government’s short-term agenda and long-term vision for the future care and support of carers.
£255 million has been made available to implement some immediate steps alongside with medium and long-term plans.
These include:
- £150 million towards planned short breaks for carers;
- £38 million towards supporting carers to enter or re-enter the job market and
- £6 million towards improving support for young carers.
Other schemes include
- piloting of annual health checks for carers to help them stay well
- training for GPs to recognise and support carers.
The strategy envisages an integrated and personalised support service for carers via easily accessible information, and targeted training for key professionals, and pilots test improvements the NHS can make to better support carers.
This is supported by the following documents:
Are you aware of this statement from the DWP:
News this month that the DWP plans to force the partners of the poorest sick and disabled claimants to carry out specific work-related activities, chosen by voluntary and private sector Pathways agencies, or lose benefits. It’s part of the provisions of the latest welfare reform bill that has received little attention so far.
My comment:
A carer only qualifies for Carers benefit if they care for at least 35 hours a week. Are the government now expecting the carers to work extra hours on a voluntary basis? Who looks after the sick and disabled person whilst the carer is doing voluntary work elsewhere?
By: michael on February 5, 2009
at 12:16 pm