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

points that carers might experience. In addition, the review team noted, that
the South Eastern Trust has International Organisation for Standardisation
(ISO) procedures in place to document the responses they receive. In the
Western Trust the older people‟s programme of care operates a facing sheet
in the client file that practitioners use to record the main carer. The Belfast
Trust Carer Strategy Sub- Group is currently drafting staff guidance for the
identification of carers. Trusts indicated that their individual business case for
the development of a new Community Information System (CIS) was well
underway. The development and implementation of this electronic recording
system will also assist trusts in the identification of main carers.
Monitoring Carer’s Assessments
Departmental guidance (Carer‟s Assessment and Information Guidance
2005) 12 states that a “carer must always receive a copy of their assessment.”
Trusts reported that carers are routinely given information and are offered a
carer‟s assessment. Carers‟ assessments are monitored on a regular basis,
both during staff supervision and through other trust data collection
processes.
The offer of a carers‟ assessment is also monitored by DHSSPS and the HSC
Board in their monthly statistical returns, to the DHSSPS Community
Information Branch. At carer assessment training sessions, provided by all
trusts, staff are clearly guided to offer and undertake carer assessments.
However, it was reported that while staff can encourage carers to take up an
assessment, not all carers wish to avail of a separate assessment of their
needs. Some older people are reluctant to take up an assessment that
focuses on their needs and indeed many do not recognise themselves as
carers.
Carers’ Assessments Offered and Declined
Table 1: Reasons Cited for Declining an Assessment
Reason for declining assessment Responses Percentage
Adequate informal support in place 403 37
Time for assessment not suitable 230 21
Assessment not seen as beneficial 123 11
Do not view themselves as a carer 112 10
Want their issues as a carer to remain
private
60 6
Other 42 4
No reason given 110 10
Concerned about impact on benefits 8 1
Total number of carers declining
Assessment
1088 100
12 Carer‟s Assessment and Information Guidance can be accessed at:
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/carers
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