Carers assessment questionnaire results

Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts and took the time to complete the carers assessment questionnaire in January 2025.

We were asking for people's views on how we can improve our Carers Assessment. We had over 90 responses and plenty of great suggestions for improvement.

You said:

  • 32% would prefer partner organisations, to carry out the carers assessment, such as WHIST, Connected Caring
  • 21% of people were happy with this to be carried out by a social worker
  • 21% voted for the Let's Talk team to carry out assessments
  • 26% voted for "other" suggestions which included GP/ care settings and charity organisations

What areas you would like to see included in the carers assessment:

  • How does my caring responsibilities affect my life and family commitments 
  • What support / help do I think I need 
  • Financial support for me or the person I am caring for 
  • Improving my situation
  • Respite opportunities

People were not put off with the term "assessment" and 65% were happy to continue use this term.

Following an assessment, people said they would prefer:

  • 47% - Telephone wellbeing check (follow up call, 3 or 6 months)
  • 34% - Planned review meeting 
  • 18% - Other

Other suggestions included:

"Making family GP aware of the situation and that it is a vulnerable household"

"Raise awareness of what kinds of support is available some people aren't sure what to ask for help to identify this perhaps"

Finally, we asked for any further suggestions to help improve an carers assessment

Here are of some of these suggestions:

"A named contact I could speak to when I needed help "

"More empathy and compassion as to the situation the carer and the cared for have to deal with on a day-to-day basis."

"Make it clear to carers from the start that the assessment is to talk about themselves, it's for them not the cared-for. Make sure the assessment is guided back to them if it strays into the cared-for. "

Based on this feedback we are collaborating more closely with partner organisations and are still working on what our revised "carers offer" will look like. 

What we are doing

  • We are developing new training for staff who complete a carers assessment and inviting carers to be part of this training. 
  • We are developing a new carers assessment tool for professionals which will support them to have a more meaningful conversation with the carer, making sure it is based on what matters to them.
  • We are also developing a new review process for those who have received a carers assessment.
  • We are rolling out a carer's learning and development programme to support carers in their role.
  • We have developed a Communications Strategy and are developing a communications campaign to inform carers about their rights, what is available to support them and how to access this.
  • We plan to roll out the new revised carers offer and training in stages from May 2025 onwards