Helpline For Carers
http://moneycarer.org.uk/articles/articles/30/1/Helpline-For-Carers/Page1.html
Money Carer
Recent news stories of interest from Money Carer. By Money Carer
Published on 18/09/2007
According to a recent announcement by the Department of Health a key requirement of carers is accessible and reliable information that enables them to access services and support, helping them to properly meet the needs of themselves and the person they care for. Such information, is however, often scattered across a wide variety of sources, and in many cases carers are not even aware that the information, and the associated opportunities or support solutions, even exist.
Helpline For Carers
A large number of local and national advice services already exist providing valuable support to carers, helping carers access the information and support that they need. The value of these services cannot be overstated, but they are often available for only a few hours a week and/or poorly resourced or underfunded. What is lacking is a well-funded and comprehensive service.
In recognition of this, the government white paper ‘Our health, our care, our say’ described the establishment of a Carers’ Advice Line. The advice line will provide, through a single national telephone number, access to the information so needed by carers. It is expected that upon calling the advice line that carers will be provided assistance by the advice line directly, or passed to an existing national or local advice service that is appropriate to meet their needs.
Work is presently underway to confirm the specification of the advice line. It is expected that the tendering process to find a suitable provider of the service will begin in November 2007, with the contract awarded in April 2008. It is anticipated that the service will be in place for summer 2008.
The Department of Health is making £3m a year available to support this service.
In recognition of this, the government white paper ‘Our health, our care, our say’ described the establishment of a Carers’ Advice Line. The advice line will provide, through a single national telephone number, access to the information so needed by carers. It is expected that upon calling the advice line that carers will be provided assistance by the advice line directly, or passed to an existing national or local advice service that is appropriate to meet their needs.
Work is presently underway to confirm the specification of the advice line. It is expected that the tendering process to find a suitable provider of the service will begin in November 2007, with the contract awarded in April 2008. It is anticipated that the service will be in place for summer 2008.
The Department of Health is making £3m a year available to support this service.