NHS Carer Information Strategies

This places a statutory duty on NHS Boards to produce a Carer Information Strategy that meets set minimum requirements.  Some of the minimum requirements that each strategy must include are:

• Arrangements for involvement of carers in the development of the strategy
• Clear demonstration of how boards have identified the information carers need how it will be provided and by which lead agency.
• Strategic proposals for address the identification and information needs of young carers and carers from minority ethnic communities. 
• Joint working arrangements
• The steps that will be taken to identify and inform carers and signpost to support. Detailed proposals for staff training
• Detailed proposals for carer training including “expert carer” training targeted specifically at carers with intensive caring responsibilities.
• Identification of lead officers (at Senior Manager level) and specific staff within teams. 
• Clear details of how performance can be monitored and outcomes for carers. 

There are also a range of best practice recommendations that Boards could consider in their planning but the Executive have no powers to insist that these are included.  These include formal referral procedures to local support agencies.

NHS Boards must submit their strategies by 29 December 2006 (this was originally 31 October 2006).  Boards who meet the original deadline must implement from the 1 April 2007 and those who received an extension implement from 1 May 2007