Review of the Implementation of the Northern Ireland Single ...

Good Practice Example
The following was commended as an example of good practice by the review
team
Developing a Community Carers’ Support Model to Meet the Needs of
Carers in the Southern HSC Trust Area
This new service aims to ensure that all carers in the Southern Trust area
receive the same level of support and have the same access to services and
support services.
The carers‟ coordinator completed a survey with carers (June/July 2010), to
ascertain what advice, support and services they required. The feedback
from this informed and shaped the development of a new trust - wide
approach for the development of carer support services.
The new service for carers is provided in partnership with a voluntary
organisation Carers Matter run by a board of trustees and consisting of carers
and ex carers. Carers Matter provides valuable input to many already
established trust support groups as well as the development of a range of
outreach drop - in centres across all localities within the Southern Trust area.
Numerous awareness sessions have already taken place with social work and
professional teams and community & voluntary organisations. Further
sessions are planned, with a large number of already established service
networks as well as GP practices, to raise awareness of the services available
for carers.
The Trust‟s Carers‟ Reference Group closely monitors the new service to
ensure it is in line with the key requirements for service provision and provide
feedback to the trust on the effectiveness of the service.
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