Carers Wales: Research reveals over  135,000 in Wales quit work to care   Government and employers must step-up support for families as survey reveals shocking impact of caring on workforce.   A staggering  135,515 adults in Wales have given up work to care for an elderly parent, disabled or seriously ill loved ones, Carers Wales and business forum Employers for Carers (EfC) today reveal.   A Carers UK/YouGov Poll shows 135,515 have quit work and152,186  have reduced working hours to care.   Carers Wales has pointed to the impact on family finances of giving up work or cutting working hours…

Carers Wales Welcomes New Head - and Bids Fond Farewell to Retiring Director   Carers UK is delighted to announce the appointment of Keith Bowen as Director of Carers Wales.   Keith moves from Manager for Contact a Family Wales to take up the post, following the retirement of Roz Williamson. Keith is currently also the Chair of the Wales Carers Alliance.   Heléna Herklots, Chief Executive of Carers UK said:    “We are delighted to welcome Keith as Director of Carers Wales. Keith has a long history of working with carers and families of disabled children and adults. We…

Roz Williamson, the Director of Carers Wales since 1999, is retiring at the end of March.  During her time with Carers Wales, she has been actively involved in campaigning for a better deal for carers in Wales. She has worked with the Welsh Government, the National Assembly for Wales and the UK government to ensure that the real life experiences of carers informs the policy decisions and legislation that affects the lives carers and the people they look after. “It has been a huge privilege to work for Carers Wales and Carers UK. I have met amazing people who, as…

CENSUS REVEALS MAJOR RISE IN NUMBERS OF UNPAID FAMILY CARERS   The number of people providing unpaid care for disabled, sick or elderly relatives and loved ones has risen substantially in the last decade.   Census data released today (11/12/12) by the government reveals that the number of carers increased from 5.2 million to 5.8 million in England and Wales between 2001 and 2011.   The greatest rise has been among those providing over 20 hours care – the point at which caring starts to significantly impact on the health and wellbeing of the carer, and their ability to hold…

FAMILIES UNDER PRESSURE AS ‘SANDWICH CARING’ HITS EMPLOYMENT, FINANCES AND MARRIAGES   Leading carers charity calling for services to ‘catch up’ with new reality of family life   SANDWICH generation parents are emotionally and financially overwhelmed by the pressures of raising children alongside caring for ageing relatives, new research from Carers UK reveals.   The research, which coincides with national Carers Rights Day, showed that four in ten (42%) sandwich carers were struggling to cope as their careers, family finances and marriages suffered.   Three quarters of sandwich carers surveyed for the research had seen a loss of earnings and…

The Welsh Government is aiming through its Social Services and Well-being Wales Bill to transform the way that social services are delivered in Wales. The overall aim will be to ensure that social services in Wales promote people's well-being, enabling them to have a stronger voice and real control over their lives. This consultation is important. It is a key part of the development of the Framework that will set out outcomes for people who need care and support. People who need care and support, now or in the future, should be able to use the Framework to see what sorts of…

The Welsh Assembly Government has launched a Consultation Document to seek views on the draft refreshed Carers Strategy for Wales. The last strategy was reviewed in 2007 and significant advances have been made since then, including the Carers Strategies (Wales) Measure 2010. The support for carers should also be significantly enhanced by the Social Services and Well-being Wales Bill which will be published in January 2013.   This will contain new measures to promote carers' rights and put carers on an equal footing with other service users in relation to social care and support. The consultation will close on 5th February 2013.…

As part of Carers Week, Wales Carers Alliance, (a grouping of 16 national voluntary organisations working together to improve the lives of carers) and the Royal College of GPs (Wales) held a joint reception in the Assembly attended by senior policy makers and politicians.  The aim was to raise awareness of the importance that GPs and other primary care practitioners have in identifying and signposting carers to sources of support and advice. In the Carers Week report that was issued on Monday 18th June – In Sickness and In Health,  43% of respondents in Wales have put off medical treatment…

The Carers Strategies (Wales) Measure 2010 was passed by the National Assembly for Wales on 22 September 2010 and received Royal Assent on 10 November 2010. The Carers Strategies (Wales) Regulations 2011 were approved by the National Assembly for Wales on 6 December 2011. The Measure, Regulations and Guidance on implementing the Measure were issued to LHBs, Velindre NHS Trust, the Welsh Ambulance Trust and Social Services (the ‘designated authorities’) on 8 December 2011. The Carers Strategies (Wales) Measure places a statutory duty on the ‘designated authority’ or two or more ‘designated authorities’ to prepare, publish and implement a strategy…

Roz Williamson, Director, Carers Wales has during the last few months been busy meeting and setting up meetings with Directors and Deputy Directors of Social Services across all the local authorities in Wales. Given the current and likely financial constraints placed on local authorities, Carers Wales has been concerned that vital services for carers and those that they look after will be put under increased financial pressure, or that services may be changed or cut. As an organisation campaigning for carers’ rights, it is important that we continue to engage with those at the very highest level to ensure that…