Employers Carer Awareness Training

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    Carers Hub

    Carers Awareness Training

    created by

    Carers Center for Brighton & Hove

    Use the Next button to continue.

    Click the Next button or use the right arrow key to continue.

    About this training

    What to expect

    This training will qualify you to be registered with us as a Carer Champion (not compulsory).

    These provide a first contact point in an organisation or community.

    How to complete this training

    Scroll through the following webpages and at the end of each main section, you will find a short video explaining the previous pages in a little more detail.

    There will also be some questions to answer as you progress though. You will be prompted when you have answered all correctly and you will be able to continue to the next page

    Become a Carer Champion

    Get the badge

    If you wish to become a Carer Champion, there are two paths to choose from

    1. You have undertaken face to face training with us.
    2. You are completing this online training.

    Both will confirm you as a Carer Champion and you will receive a badge, lanyard and Carer Champion Certificate.

    Please note that we only provide support and resources to Brighton and Hove based Carer Champions. If you are based outside the city, please click the “No” button on the next page. You can still download a certificate of completion at the end of the module.

    Get training

    You don’t need to become a Carer Champion – you can complete the training out of interest or to have greater understanding for your organisation or community but not be registered as a champion.

    At the end of this training you will be able to download a certificate of completion.

    Get support

    After becoming a Carer Champion, we will be in contact to update you and share with you details of Carers Week and Carers Rights day and ways you can work towards supporting family friend carers.

    Consent

    Thank you for taking time to find out more about unpaid family/friend carers.

    By entering the following details you consent to us holding data and contacting you about the completion and follow up of this training.

    Our privacy policy https://www.thecarerscentre.org/privacy-policy/

    Register

    skipcompleting for personal interestwith an organisation, club or group
    skipNoYes, please send me a badge and lanyard

    Think carer…

    The Carers Centre is the lead partner within the Carers Hub working in partnership with

    • The Alzheimer’s Society
    • Crossroads Care
    • Brighton and Hove Carers Assessment Workers.

    Welcome

    Please watch the following short video

    Welcome video by Tom (1:36)

    Welcome

    Welcome to this free Carer Awareness training session. It is expected that it will take between 45 and 60 minutes to complete.

    Why do this course?

    You may be taking this course out of general interest around caring.

    Maybe you are a carer wanting to know a little more about us and what caring means.

    Possibly you are a representative of a group, organisation, or community, with an interest in becoming a Carer Champion and being able to recognise when someone may have a care role, answer initial questions and know how to signpost to help and support.

    Carer Champion

    By taking this training session and answering the questions that will be asked, you are completing our Carer Champion training and will qualify for a badge and certificate if you wish.

    We also have specific training for employers, primary healthcare staff and people in education though you will not need to complete these if you have already done this training. Speak to us directly about specific support or go directly to the relevant training session on our website instead of completing this session.

    Who we are

    The Carers Centre is a charity formed in 1988 to support the needs of unpaid family/friend carers in Brighton and Hove.

    Since 2018 we have also been the lead partner of a project funded by Brighton and Hove City Council, called the Carers Hub, which provides a single point of contact for carers in the city.

    The Hub comprises four organisations. The Carers Centre, Alzheimer’s Society – helping people with dementia, Crossroads Care, providing short term respite solutions and Brighton and Hove City Council Carer Assessment Workers.

    You are now about to start the first section where we will look at what being a carer means.

    I hope you enjoy the session and wish you all the very best.

    What do we mean by the term “Carer”?

    ‘A carer is a person of any age, providing unpaid support to a partner, relative, or friend who could not manage without their help due to their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem, or an addiction’

    ‘What being a carer means and what the role entails can vary with cultural and religious expectations.’

    Race Equality Foundation 2020

    Care Act 2014

    Significant rights for carers in England.

    Entitlement to a carer’s assessment where you appear to have eligible needs.

    General duty on local authorities to promote a person’s ‘WELLBEING’ to provide information and advice to carers in relation to their caring role and their own needs.

    Carers also in work

    Employers for Carers

    Creating a Carer Friendly City

    Caring can be extremely complicated, and becomes potentially even more so when working as well.

    Many employers have wellbeing programmes in place especially following the Covid-19 pandemic but these frequently do not cater specifically for the employee who also has a carer role outside of work.

    Carers UK developed the Employers for Carers scheme to provide employers with the resources and support to ensure they are aware of carers among their staff, know how to support and retain them, have effective policies and understand the law surrounding unpaid carers in their employ.

    The Carers UK Helpline is here when you need expert information, advice and support about your rights, about financial and practical help available or about any other challenges caring can present.

    Contact us

    Call us on 01273 977 000
    Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm

    Send us an email at info@carershub.co.uk

    We can also give you a call back.

    Carers may become vulnerable because of their caring role…

    …in terms of

    • risk of illness
    • social isolation
    • reduced finances at the present time & in the future
    • Personal freedom, because they support people who depend on them

    What being a carer means

    Please watch the following short video

    Video Lizzie and Steve (4:06)

    Q. So what does it mean to be a carer and specifically an unpaid family/friend carer?

    A. The term “carer” is quite generally used in society and can mean someone who is a paid professional and maybe works in a care home or for an agency.

    We define it as people who provide unpaid care for family, friends, neighbours etc. not healthcare professionals!

    Q. Can you give me an example?

    A. As we mention in the information you just saw, every situation is unique for family friend carers: age, who they care for, the reason for the care, financial resources and care they provide, all vary.

    It could be a young adult carer looking after a parent with a mental health challenge.

    Maybe someone looking after their partner with cancer or a neighbour looking after another neighbour who requires additional support due to frailty and older age.

    Q. So how does this affect people?

    A. It can be life changing. A caring role can happen overnight or be a gradual progression.

    For example, caring for a person after an accident or stroke has different initial requirements compared to looking after someone with dementia or frailty due to age.

    Q. Do carers have to live with the person they help?

    Not at all. They might even live in a different city.

    They may also be managing their own health conditions.

    Carers may become vulnerable as caring can be stressful and lead to a risk of illness. Some other ways they can be impacted include:

    Being isolated from friends and social events.

    They will probably suffer a negative financial impact.

    Almost certainly they have less personal freedom because of the support they provide.

    Q. So does everyone think of caring as a role and get help?

    A. Absolutely not.

    It can take a while for someone to realise they have a caring role, it is not unusual to hear carers say,

    ‘I am just looking after my wife’, or ‘She is my mum and so I want to look after her’.

    A caring role can mean very different things and it is important to also understand that there are sometimes cultural expectations and worries that carers may have about seeking support.

    Q. So carers roles are not all the same?

    A. Exactly.

    Carers experiences are unique even though there might be similarities.

    What one may be able to manage another may find incredibly challenging.

    For example, someone in full time work may not have the time to support the person they help go to appointments.

    A carer may feel they will be judged on their caring role or even that the person they care for will be removed.

    Q. So how could we sum up the term unpaid family/friend carer?

    A. It’s probably easiest to think about impact: if you help another person to live their life and that begins to prevent you from being able to do things in your life that are important and support your wellbeing, then you may want to think about accessing support.

    Q. What support?

    A. Well, the Care Act 2014 says that carers have a right to have their own needs assessed by the local authority. This is separate from any assessment of the person being helped.

    There is no legal requirement for people to take on a care role but anyone who thinks they might be a carer can call us or complete our online referral and we will carry out a free assessment with them. If they need greater support, we will refer them to BHCC for a full assessment.

    Q. I’ve heard about Carers Allowance?

    A. There is an allowance that some carers can claim but they are still seen as an unpaid carer.

    Q. What about if someone is working as well as caring?

    A. For working carers and employers, there are resources that are available which have been created by Carers UK.

    The Digital Resource for Carers is available to any carer in Brighton and Hove. You can get details from the Carers Centre.

    Here at the Carers Centre, we also have fact sheets and other information for working carers and a specialist working carer lead.

    Carers Quiz

    1. How might we define family/friend carers?

    Please select True or False.

    They provide professional care 0TrueFalse

    That's not correct. A unpaid family friend carer is not a professional.
    That's the right answer.

    They must be registered as a carer with an organisation 0TrueFalse

    That's not correct. A family friend carer does not have to register with an organisation.
    That's correct.

    They provide support to a family member or friend who has a health condition who would not be able to cope without the help 0TrueFalse

    That's true.
    That's the wrong answer.

    They must live with the person receiving care 0TrueFalse

    Yes, that's right.
    No, you don’t have to live with the person you care for!

    2. What are possible impacts on carers because of the support they provide?

    Tick all that apply.
    That right, all of these are possible impacts.
    Well done, now click NEXT to continue.

    Carers voices – what it means to be a carer

    Please watch the following short video

    Credit: Carers Trust (2:51)

    Before he was ill, our life was wonderful as long as we were together. Michael has cancer and has acquired brain injuries. He ended up on life support for a month and wasn’t the same again.

    I lost my husband and it was difficult to take the change. I’m expected to carry on and look after him.

    My daughters are the most important things to me. Simran is eight and has special needs. We’re constantly at different hospitals and her day-to-day activities have to be supported no matter what.

    Emotionally, it’s crazy and I had to learn ways of dealing with the emotional strain. Socially, I’m completely isolated and physically I’m exhausted.

    I had to learn so much as I’m the financer, nurse, and secretary all rolled into one, which is totally overwhelming.

    I’ve been suicidal before. Giving up my career as a project manager in the office was a big change. It became clear Simran was going to need more support.

    To make ends meet, I had to be creative. I can phone Carer’s Trust for help and the sitting service gives me me time.

    Carers Trust has provided information and specialist advice which has made a tremendous difference. They also recently had a well-being appointment, which was so helpful.

    As carers, we take our own health for granted, but Carers Trust is looking out for us and prolonging our ability to look after the people we love.

    I’ve made Michael’s life as good as I possibly can with the support I’ve received. It’s not all doom and gloom and I’m grateful for the support I’ve received. I’m looking forward to the future.

    A caring role might involve……

    Click on each circle to see some examples of caring roles.

    Look at each circle to see some examples of caring roles.

    Common Barriers to identifying carers and acceptance of care role

    Click on image to see common responses.

    “Stigma, shame of using services – It’s our duty to care – it’s the normal thing to do.”

    “I didn’t know what being a carer meant”

    “I don’t have time to register and all that.”

    “I don’t want the council round here.”

    “I can’t afford it.”

    “I’m too young.”

    “Carers work for the NHS.”

    “It’s not right for my culture.”

    “I could be sacked or miss promotion if I make it official.”

    “I’m/They’re just old.”

    “I hate that term (carer), I’m their…….”

    “I don’t have the internet, good enough English – The way services are communicated.”

    Starting the conversation

    Instead of saying “Are you a carer?”

    Click on each speech bubble to see some better approaches.

    ???

    Are you helping your mum with… washing, meals?

    ???

    If you are helping your ….. There is support and information available to you …..

    ???

    Do you look after your sister?

    ???

    Have you ever thought about getting help with….?

    What a care role involves and barriers

    Please watch the following short video.

    Video Lizzie and Steve (2:48)

    Q. What barriers might there be to someone seeing themselves as a carer?

    A. Well, unfortunately there are quite a lot.

    Some might be cultural or religious – the person providing the care might feel that it is just the normal or right thing for them to do – they have a sense of duty to provide the care. In some cultures, there can even be feelings of shame that care is having to be provided.

    Q. What about examples where it’s not cultural?

    A. It might be the case that the caring has evolved out of normal life, such as people living together who naturally help each other but maybe frailty has led to more reliance on one person.

    There are also people who just don’t want to be a burden or have people “interfering” in their lives.

    Q. Does the word “carer” ever become an issue?

    A. Sometimes the term itself is a barrier either because it is thought of only as for professionals or, people don’t want to be labelled in this way – they might feel their relationship is diminished by the term. We often hear “I’m their partner/wife/husband not their carer”.

    Q. Are there any other barriers?

    A. Time to register can be a problem too and especially where the carer may have work as well.

    Some people might think they have to be receiving carers allowance.

    For working carers, there can be fear that they will miss out on promotion or other opportunities if they reveal they have a care role.

    Lastly, getting information and registering as a carer might be quite scary if English isn’t your first language, you don’t have the internet or maybe the information is not presented to you in a way that you can access or understand.

    Q. So how might I approach someone to find out if they are a carer and see if there is support they might need?

    A. The easiest way is to just ask about their circumstances in a friendly, relaxed manner.

    You could say something like, “Do you help your mum out?” or “Have you ever thought about getting help with your partner?”

    This naturally leads onto opportunities to signpost the support that is available via organisations like The Carers Centre/Hub.

    Q. Finally what might a care role actually look like?

    A. As we said before, each situation is unique but there are some common things that carers do.

    They might be providing practical help with things like washing, cleaning, cooking, shopping etc.

    They might assist the person to take medication or provide personal care such as helping them to visit the bathroom, shower etc.

    The help provided might be about financial matters or it could be giving the person emotional support.

    The key is that without that support, the person would not be able to cope.

    Carers Quiz 2

    1. What barriers might there be to someone seeing themselves as a carer?

    Tick all that apply.
    That's right, these are all barriers.
    No, you won't have to give up work to be a carer.

    2. Which of the following phrases are most helpful when starting a conversation with someone you think may have a care role?

    Tick all that apply.
    That's correct, these are the most helpful phrases.
    Asking "Are you a carer?" is not so helpful.

    Support for carers

    For adults caring for adults

    Part of The Carers Centre

    For Young People caring for someone

    Part of The Carers Centre

    For Parents caring for a child with a disability under 18

    tel: 01273 772289 email: info@amazesussex.org.uk website

    Brighton and Hove City Council Carer Support page

    www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/adult-social-care/care-and-support-adults/support-carers

    Carers Hub – what to expect

    • A referral from an individual or a professional is received using the relevant form on our website
    • Carers Information pack sent out
    • Follow up phone call made
    • Opportunity to have a carers assessment for a carers card
    • Invited to join Carer Hub activities, talk about contingency planning and sign posted to other services within the Carers Hub

    Employers for Carers

    Let’s now take a look at the Employers for Carers resource.

    This is a comprehensive toolkit for employers and carers, to help and support them both.

    Employers for Carers

    The EFC is available free to any organisation/employer in Brighton and Hove if they have less than 250 employees, otherwise a fee applies.

    It is available free to individual carers using the same sign up process. The access code is #EFC1498

    https://efcdigital.org

    When you sign up or log in, you will see this page 

    When you are signed in you will see this page and can access resources.

    Credit to: Employers for Carers

    Let’s take a look at the opening screen!

    Employers for Carers resource –
    free in Brighton & Hove if less than 250 staff

    What’s the employers access code? #EFC1498
    Call or email us for more details of support!

    Once you have signed up, if you are an employer, click on “Resources for managers” at the top of the page. 

    Here is a snapshot of Employers Resource home page:

    Digital Resource for Carers is now via the EFC

    #EFC1498 is the free access code.

    Here is a snapshot of some of the sections available
    on the “Resources for carers” home page:

    Carer Centre/Hub Services

    Please watch the following short video.

    Video Lizzie and Steve (2:42)

    Q. So who helps unpaid carers in Brighton and Hove?

    A. The Carers Hub is the first point of contact for all unpaid carers in the city except if you are a parent caring for a child, you will be supported by Amaze.

    Q. How does someone register?

    Carers can be referred by professionals such as GPs or they can self-refer. Both can be done by phone or online.

    Q. What happens and is it free?

    A. Yes, it’s free.

    When a carer comes through, we send out information packs and follow up with a call.

    Part of the call discusses the type of support they would like to access. 

    We will offer a Carer Contact Assessment, which is part of a Brighton & Hove City Council carers assessment.

    Q. What else is available for carers?

    A. All carers who choose to have a Carers Contact Assessment will be eligible for a carers card. This card gives carers discounts off things across the city, including bus fares, discounts at freedom leisure and much more.

    Q. Anything else you offer?

    A. Yes, quite a lot.

    We have a number of projects and services including a large number of weekly activities. These are constantly refreshed and updated, so check our website for the latest information. 

    We also have a quarterly newsletter Carers News that carers and professionals can sign up to.

    Q. What about specialist support?

    We have specific support for carers who are looking after someone with a mental health challenge – this service is called Changes Ahead and offers one to one emotional support and a specific monthly meet up.

    We also support carers who are looking after someone with an end-of-life condition and offer one to one emotional support.

    Q. it sounds like quite a lot so far. Is there anything else?

    A. Yes. We support carers, with access to the My Health Matters service through Crossroads. This provides someone to be with the person being cared for while the carer attends their own health and wellbeing appointments.

    We also support carers with direct referrals to the Alzheimer’s Society where they can get specialist dementia support.

    And as mentioned previously, we also support young people to manage their caring role and it’s impact. The Young Carers Project supports young carers from the age of 6, and young adults up to 25 through the Carers Hub. They are offered emotional support and advocacy as well as opportunities to meet other young people for peer support and to take part in activities.

    We know that is a lot to remember, so please feel free to give us a call or check our website for information.

    Carers Quiz 3

    1. If you talk to someone about them possibly being a carer, what are the next steps to take

    Tick all that apply.
    That's right.
    No, that's not right.

    2. Choose True or False.

    An employer with more than 250 employees can have free access to the EFC 0TrueFalse

    That's not correct, a fee applies.
    That's the right answer.

    An individual carer in Brighton and Hove can sign up for the DRC for fre 0TrueFalse

    That's not correct.
    That's the right answer.

    Stay informed

    Carers News and activities

    For our quarterly newsletter Carers News and our bi-weekly activity sheet and updates of useful information, subscribe to our mailing list.

    Tick here:

    Get in touch

    Our Contact Details

    Carers Hub

    For Young Adult Carers age 18+

    01273 977000

    info@carershub.co.uk

    Make a self referral

    Make a professional referral

    Young Carers Project

    For Young Carers age 6-17

    01273 746222

    youngcarersproject@thecarerscentre.org

    Make a professionals young carer referral

    Open these contact details and links to resources in a new window that you can bookmark.

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