Inviting your feedback on the proposed Carers Strategy priorities for Barnsley

Over the last twelve months, Barnsley Council have worked closely with carers, providers and other key stakeholders in Barnsley to develop our proposed Carers Strategy.

Co-designed with our borough’s carers, we have used their views and expertise to shape the strategy’s key priorities, which will help us to best support them over the next five years.

To help make sure our proposed priorities are the right ones to focus on, we have launched an online consultation, open until Friday 4 February. This will allow us to collect further feedback on our key priorities from carers and those involved in providing care.

The feedback over the past year, including from our Carers Forum and Young Carers Council, has identified six overarching priority areas where carers have told us they face challenges and change is needed. These priority areas are:

• Identifying carers and encouraging them to recognise their role and rights.
• Working with carers to be part of the decision making and planning process for the person they care for.
• Assessing carer’s needs and giving them a chance to discuss what matters to them, including their health and wellbeing, finances, work, education and training.
• Giving those looking after loved ones the opportunity to discuss having a carer’s break and explore the flexible options available to them.
• Helping carers stay in work with supportive working arrangements by workplaces.
• Support young carers to prevent inappropriate caring and help them to balance their care role with their rights to be a child or young person.

Further details about how we identified these priorities can be found in Appendix B of our draft Barnsley Carers Strategy, which you can read in full here.

You can take part in our consultation survey until Friday 4 February here.

If you are unable to complete the survey online, please contact Barnsley Carers Service on 01226 288772. They will be able to send you a paper copy of the strategy and arrange a phone call to discuss your views in line with the survey questions.

Councillor Jenny Platts, Cabinet Spokesperson for Adults and Communities, said: “We should all have the best possible chance of enjoying life in good physical and mental health, which is why I’m proud of what we are proposing with our Barnsley Carers Strategy.

“COVID-19 has highlighted the vital role unpaid carers play in our society, so I’m delighted we have been able to work with those in our communities to propose plans which will support them for years to come.

“I would encourage anyone that looks after a family member, friend or neighbour who couldn’t manage without that support in Barnsley to take part in this consultation. With your feedback, we can make sure our plans address the challenges you face.”

Councillor Trevor Cave, Cabinet Spokesperson for Children’s Services, said: “Our carers in Barnsley are a huge asset to our communities, and it’s our role to support them in any way we can.”

“It has been great to hear from young carers across the borough when building our Carers Strategy. Listening to their experiences, we have been able to identify priorities which will help address the unique challenges they face and get them the support they need.”

“I would encourage young carers across Barnsley to have a read of our priorities, have your say in our survey and help us make sure our priorities are the right ones to focus on.”

If you are a carer and would like to be involved in the strategy through the Carers Forum or Young Carers Council, please contact the Barnsley Carers Service on 01226 288772 or Barnardo’s Young Carers Service on 01226 770619.