PRACTICE PROTOCOL FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF CARERS
AND THE RECORDING OF CARERS DETAILS
INCLUDING A PROCEDURE FOR THE PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO CARERS ABOUT LOCAL SPECIALIST SUPPORT SERVICES
AND THEIR RIGHT TO A CARERS ASSESSMENT BY SOCIAL SERVICES
To fulfil quality criteria under the new GMS Contract (Practice Management 9),
NSFs for Mental Health/Older People, Clinical Governance Programme
and the Government's National Strategy for Carers
1. All practice staff to be aware of the need to identify carers
2. All practice staff to be informed of Islington Carers Forum support services
3. All practice staff to be informed of the provision under the Carer and Disabled Children Act 2000 of the Carers right to a Social Services Assessment
4. A Carers Lead(s) to be nominated as responsible for all matters relating to carers
5. Carers to be identified by practice staff in the following ways:
(i) Additional questions to be added to New Patient Health Check forms: 'Are you a carer?' (READ code 918G) and 'Do you have a carer?' (READ code 918F) and details transferred to EMIS computer system using the carers template
(ii) During home visits by GPs and Practice nurses
(iii) Opportunistically during GP consultations and contact with receptionists
6. When a patient is identified as a carer (by the person undertaking the New Patient Health Check/New Patient Registration) the carer should be:
(i) Given/sent an Islington self-referral Carers Forum leaflet
(ii) Given/sent the Social Services leaflet “Looking After Someone Else?” with self-referral insert
(iii) If sending the above, covering letter also to be sent explaining how Islington carers Forum can help and the benefits of requesting a carers assessment
When a patient is identified as a carer and considered to be in need of support (by any member of the practice staff):
(i) Patient to be directed to the carers Lead(s)
(ii) Carers Lead(s) to provide carer with information on Islington Carers Forum leaflet with self-referral form
(iii) If the carer has sensory/physical disabilities or if English is not their first language, assistance should be given by the carers Leads) in terms of explaining verbally what support services are available, of helping them fill in the form; or, if an urgent appointment is required, to telephone/fax the Forum directly.
(iv) The Carers Lead(s) should inform the carer of their right to a Social Services assessment and give/send him/her the Social Services Leaflet “Looking After Someone Else?” or should inform Islington Carers Forum of the carer’s wish for an assessment (and the Forum will refer).
7. carers Lead(s) to be responsible for ensuring that there are sufficient pamphlets, self-referral/membership forms and posters in reception for self-referral and for distribution to patients who are carers; and for ensuring special carers events and courses are adequately displayed and regularly updated.
8. Carers Lead(s) to ensure that a record is kept of the date when carers have been sent/given the appropriate leaflets.
Hilary Ayling Primary Care Development Project, Updated Winter 2004
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