Working together to support carers in Barnet
On this page
- Lead organisation
Barnet Council
- Project contact
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(please include ‘Supporting Carers Hub’ in the subject line)
Our work with carers is led by Barnet Carers Centre (BCC), who led on co-production for our new strategy, as well as chairing the new partnership board.
Our Carers Strategy
Coproduction: In 2023 we coproduced a Carers and Young Carers Strategy for Barnet. The strategy was jointly led by Barnet Council and Barnet Carers Centre, and was shaped by the views of 300 carers. We heard from carers about their experiences, challenges and ideas for improvement. These were then turned into our strategic priorities, from more proactively identifying carers, to providing personalised support, hearing the voice of carers and raising awareness. Carers also play a key role in our Partnership Board and action plan.
All-ages: Across our carers services we work closely between adult social care and family services. This means our strategy and approach is focused on carers of all ages, and we can identify areas of crossover as well as different challenges.
Early successes
Since launching the strategy and partnership board, the action plan is progressing well. We have already had success in co-producing carers training for social care staff; working with GPs to promote referrals to carers services and working across different organisations to support the mental health of carers.
Hospital discharge project
Barnet Carers Centre (BCC) also lead on a key project to improve the experience of hospital discharge for carers across North Central London. The project will establish online and practical support through a single referral route, information and training for staff, and enhanced support for carers.
Being a carer has its rewards but it can also be a real, day to day struggle. I was really pleased to be asked about my experience of caring – it felt like someone was listening to what I had to say, could understand my life and really wanted to help make things better. I hope that things will get better for carers. I know it will continue to be tough but it does feel as though we have people on our side now.
Carer Member of the Co-production Focus Group
- Partners
Barnet Carers Centre, Barnet Council (Adult Social Care and Family Services), North Central London adult social care programme, Other partners include Public Health, Integrated Care Board, Mental Health Trust, voluntary and community sector partners, local carers representatives
- Project duration
The strategy covers the period 2023-2028
- Key beneficiaries
The strategy has wide ranging aims to support carers of all-ages in Barnet. The hospital discharge project will support carers of people coming out of hospital, potentially following a change of health or care needs.
Working together to support carers in Barnet
Why we started this initiative
Our previous strategy was coming to an end and this was a great opportunity to bring together a wide range of people with an ambitious and shared agenda to improve the lives of carers and the people they care for in Barnet.
We have also been building and strengthening our co-production approach, and this was a great opportunity to put some new methods and ways of reaching people into practice.
Our strategy has four priorities, building on insight from carers in Barnet:
1. Proactive identification of carers and young carers
2. Individualised support so that carers and young carers can get the support they need and are entitled to.
3. Involving carers to shape future services and support offer.
4. Raising the profile of carers and young carers.
The hospital discharge project aims to support carers at a challenging time, supporting safer discharge and helping to reduce readmissions. We will take a multiagency approach to provide individualised support to carers, a simpler discharge process, online and practical support to carers so they can better support their loved one.
How we’re implementing it
We have set up a Partnership Board to oversee the implementation of the strategy and action plan. A wide range of organisations and individuals are represented, including carers, carers organisations, statutory services and other voluntary sector partners. The Board has worked together to develop the action plan, make connections, as well as develop workstreams and focus groups on particular topics.
Our hospital discharge project will be led by the five carers centres across our integrated care system (North Central London), with the five councils working alongside.
Co-production
Engagement and co-production is at the heart of what we do in Barnet.
For the strategy we spoke to over 300 carers, including speaking to carers of different ages, experiences and backgrounds. We worked with voluntary sector partners, to go to where people are, and provide a wide range of ways to give feedback. The co-production gave an invaluable insight of the reality of being a carer in Barnet, especially the ways this has changed through the Covid pandemic, cost of living crisis and other challenges.
Working together
Making life better for carers needs to involve a wide range of people. We spent time building relationships across Barnet, with everyone from school nursing to mental health charities to leisure centres. Having a wide-ranging partnership board who helped develop the action plan for the strategy also means we are on a stronger path to making it a reality. Having key contacts and champions in different organisations (including health and social care) has helped keep carers on the agenda.
Carers Centre Leadership
Having the leadership of Barnet Carers Centre has been invaluable – they know the challenges facing carers and what can make a difference, as well as reaching carers who may not approach the council.
Working across boundaries
Barnet residents can be admitted to hospitals in other boroughs, causing additional challenges. By developing the hospital discharge project across our integrated care system, we aim to improve the experience of carers wherever their loved one is admitted.