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Personal Social Services Survey of Adult Carers in England - 2012-13

The Personal Social Services Survey of Adult Carers in England - 2012-13 is a national survey carried out by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care and all local authorities with Social Services Responsibilities are required to take part. The survey asks carers of service users about their quality of life and their experiences of the services they receive.

This is the second year this survey has been completed, the first carer’s survey was sent out in 2010.

Eligible carers are those carers aged 18 or over, who are helping or looking after someone aged 18 or over and who have been assessed or reviewed in the last 12 months will be included in the survey. It will also include carers of older people, those who have a learning disability; and those who use mental health services. In Rotherham there are around 8,000 people who receive care and support services.

812carers were sent a self-completion questionnaire in the post and a total of 336 completed and returned. A response total of 41%.

Presented below are the results of the survey based on the answers to the questions that asked carers to rate the service that they received. The results are compared to 16 local authories in the Yorkshire and Humber region and nationally.

Carers in Rotherham were more satisfied than both the average for the region and nationally. This also represents an improvement from the satisfaction rating in the previous survey. (See the next section of the report - ASCOF Outcome Measures)

Rotherham scored significantly above both the regional and national average. All results, positive or negative are used by the service to improve services provided.

Again the score in Rotherham was significantly higher that both the average in the region and nationally.

This is the only question where Rotherham did not score higher regionally or nationally. To clarify, personal safety does not just refer to Adults Safeguarding. The majority concerns carers raised were regarding community safety issues. The small number of carers who advised that they were extremely worried about their personal safety was contacted individually and their concerns discussed and actioned.

Rotherham scored better than both the region and the average for all Councils.

Again, this score is significantly higher than the national average and the regional average.

Although a very positive scored, as advised, these results are fed back to the services responsible and it is hoped to improve the way that we communicate with carers. The written comments made by carers are very usual in this area.

Again this is very positive for Rotherham. A significantly higher score than the average for the region and nationally.

Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework

The survey will be used to populate six outcome measures in the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF). These are a set of principles for placing outcomes at the heart of the services provided. The purpose of the ASCOF is;

Nationally, the ASCOF gives an indication of the strengths of social care and success in delivering better outcomes for people who use services.

Locally, one of the key uses is for ‘benchmarking’ and comparison between areas. This enables councils to compare their results with others and, for example, share learning and best practice. It will also support the “local account” of social care in an area by providing high-level information to underpin the narrative of these accounts.

We are able to compare on a regional basis, and with a comparator group. These are 16 other local Authority areas that are considered similar in terms of eligible population and demographics, which are based onagreed criteria.

Definitions of Adult Social Care Outcome Framework Measures

  • 1D: Carer reported quality of life.
  • 3B: Overall satisfaction of carers with social services.
  • 3C: The proportion of carers who report they have been included or consulted in discussions about the person they care for.
  • 3D: The proportion of people who use services and carers who find it easy to find information about services.

1D - Carer-reported quality of life

ASCOF Score – 8.8 (Improved from 8.4 in 2009/10).

The score places Top Quartile nationally, in our comparator group (made up of 16 Local Authorities – based on population size and demographics) and in Yorkshire and Humberside region.

3B - Overall satisfaction of carers with social services

ASCOF Score – 56.5 (Improved from 55.17 in 2009/10).

The score places Top Quartile nationally. In our comparator group (made up of 16 Local Authorities – based on population size and demographics) and in Yorkshire and Humberside region we have the best result.

3C - Proportion of carers who report that they have been included or consulted in discussion about the person they care for

ASCOF Score – 81.7 (Improved from 81.68 in 2009/10).

The score places Top Quartile nationally, in our comparator group (made up of 16 Local Authorities – based on population size and demographics) and in Yorkshire and Humberside region.

3D - Proportion of people who use services and carers who find it easy to find information about services

ASCOF Score – 80.8 (Improved from 75 in 2009/10).

The score places Top Quartile nationally, in our comparator group (made up of 16 Local Authorities – based on population size and demographics) and in Yorkshire and Humberside region.