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

DHSSPS community care statistics indicated that across all HSC trusts
863 Carers‟ Assessments were completed, 3% less than the previous quarter
(892) 1,088 carers declined an offer of assessment, an 18% decrease on the
previous quarter (1,326)
Figures for those who have declined services ranged from 105 in the Western
Trust to 350 in the South Eastern Trust.
Of those carers declining an assessment, 19 (2%) were young carers and
1,069 (98%) were adult carers.
The review team noted that older adult carers were more likely to decline an
assessment than younger adult carers, with 648 (61%) aged 65 and older
declining an assessment, compared with 384 (39%) aged 18-64. Of the 648
adults aged 65 and over, 204, (31%) were 75 and over.
Trusts may need to review the timing of an assessment with carers and be
more flexible about this in order to promote a better uptake of carer‟s
assessments.
Recording of Carer’s Assessments
The Departmental position regarding the recording of carer‟s assessments as
recommended in Promoting Partnerships in Caring (2007) 13 states:
“trusts should ensure a consistent structure to files and to the style of
recording. Information relating to carer‟s assessment and services provided
should be kept separate from the cared for person‟s file and cross- referenced
as appropriate”. It is a trust‟s operational decision as to whether there is a
separate carer‟s file or a section for carer information within the cared for
person‟s file.
The review team was informed that across all trusts, carer‟s assessment
and information on services provided for the carer are kept in a section of
the cared for person‟s file. This practice results in the information about two
people, both of whom may receive services being captured in one working
file. This can make it difficult to a) protect confidentiality and b) accurately
record unmet need, staff may not separate elements of the carer‟s
assessment from that of the cared for person‟s assessment in order to be
assured that all assessed needs are being addressed.
The review team is unclear how, in the context of trusts incorporating
information about the carer and the cared for person in the same file, trusts
are able to be assured that they adhere to the Code of Practice on
Protecting the Confidentiality of Service User Information, (DHSSPS 2009).
Trusts need to ensure that in keeping combined personal records due
cognisance is taken of Principle 7 of the Data Protection Act and that all
staff are clear about their legal requirements concerning the retention of
13 Promoting Partnerships In Care - Inspection of Social Care Support Services for Carers of Older
People (DHSSPS 2007), which can be accessed at:
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/promoting_partnerships_in_care.pdf
15