A Little Research to Help Carers!!

[Proactive Partners]

It's a shame your so far away. I could do with a few passionate people to help get the necessity for such training over to the people that can make it happen. I am trying to get hold of Imelda Redmond from Carers Uk directly to try and get her to attend the symposium so that she could at least speak on behalf of carers everywhere but I am struggling to talk to her at the moment. I promise to keep you informed of everything that happens. Can I also take is opportunity to thank you for allowing me to use your comments, I will do my best to make your feelings known. best regards, Debbie x

[Scally]

I could do with a few passionate people to help get the necessity for such training over to the people that can make it happen. x

I am of the opinion that people who have been “thrown in at the deep endâ€

[Proactive Partners]

Dear Excaliber, I am so sorry if you feel I have overlooked your comments. I agree that whilst this initial idea will not cover all the skills that a carer needs, I am also aware of other companies, carers centers and government organizations willing to offer help with financial planning, advocacy, benefits etc, although you will notice in my initial note that these have been on my list of considerations as well. However, at the moment, I can only go from my own experiences and to get other important agencies and the NHS involved it seems safeguarding of our service users and family members is a reasonable place to start. If this works then I would love to talk go you in more detail about what other types of practical training you would like to see. Paying bills and financial planning is an excellent idea as you could be in a situation where all of a sudden the person who did all the household finances, shopping is no longer able. More stoma training etc would also be useful, but remember this is only a concept at the present time and I still have to work out how this is going to be funded. I am hoping the representatives from the NHS will see this as an opportunity to save themselves millions of pounds due to "incidents" in home care and therefore could look at some way to help with finding. I really appreciate everyones feedback and comments positive or otherwise as I would be foolish to go into this blind and without seeing both sides of the coin, so please accept my apology. Please also note that I am only one person who owns a small business created off the back of a horrible experience with being a carer and just trying to make a difference. Kindest regards Debbie x

[Scally]

You dont need to apologise, and I adore enthusiasm, but I think you need to take a step back and think more carefully about your business plan and objectives before rushing ahead with your symposium. As a sole trader or small company, you might consider your own unique skill-set, and how to develop a niche market for it. So, for example, if stoma care is an expertise that you have, why not specialise in that field rather than trying to be all things to all carers, and end up satisfying none of them?

[Proactive Partners]

Thank you again for your thoughts, but I really want to try this. As I said, I really appreciate your feedback but I have also spoken to a lot of carers who would benefit from basic personal care skills. Furthermore on the domiciliary side of my business I often take on new clients who are bruised or have been involved in accidental incidents through no fault (except lack of knowledge) of their carer or themselves which as well as my own experiences has prompted this idea. As I also said at the moment this is just an idea and the symposium will help me devise my final business plan and strategies. I would be more than happy for you to attend the symposium to put your comments forward. kindest regards Debbie x

[Scally]

I'll be in New Zealand with my caree, volcanic ash permitting

As for the funding, there are several possible routes available. If you wish to contract directly with local authorities, this is possible, but first you will need to identify the person who commissions carers services (i.e. holds the budget) and talk to them directly, face to face, about their needs. If you wish to go down the charitable or not-for-profit route, then you need have a constitution that reflects this and research funding mechaisms such as the Lottery, Lloyds TSB, and grant making trusts. In each case, there are business development advisors who can help you through the maze, either through the enterprise networks of vol sector gateway services. But it isnt easy either way, because your "customer" isnt the average carer, it is the person who holds the purse-strings, and they are not going to part with hard cash unless your service precisely meets their needs. Tricky, isnt it?

[Proactive Partners]

Thanks again for some great tips Excalibur. Fortunatley we are already preferred suppliers with the commissioning teams so that's a good start. Also, I'm not afraid of a little hard work and welcome the challenge so it should be fun. It's a shame you won't be able to attend, but I hope you have a fantastic time in New Zealand!!!

[Myrtle]

It might help if when you become a carer, or your caree is first diagnosed, for you to be provided with the necessary, up to date information on where to get information on skills like financial management, human rights, anger management, claiming benefits, advocacy, or employing staff.
At least then you could start with a list of things you need to know apart from the actual caring side of things.
As all caring situations are unique then I also think that training should be individually tailored.
Sometimes we don't need a course, just a demonstration of how and a phone number for advice if we get stuck.
I'm not a nurse either, nor is it something I ever wanted to be, but over the years I have amassed some quite considerable knowledge on things medical, that relate to my husband's condition, because I have had to and 99% is learnt from other carers or the internet.

[NanaNana]

We do need individual training in our carees' disabilities (sorry, dunno what other word to use), which could be a lost cause. Who has the time to train us? We have all grown to be quite adept at coping and learning about certain aspects in our own 'field', but mostly on our own.
I no more know what a stoma is, than Excalibur may know what syringeomyelia is.
We need to know what to do and how to practice skills relating to our own 'fields' and training for those, could be costly and time consuming.
Every day for us is different and sometimes, hubby's body/legs/arms do things which they've never ever, in 16 years, done before ................ then what?????

[Scally]

I think that is where disability-specific charities come into their own. Caring for a parent (say) dying of cancer is a very different thing from caring for (say) a child with diabetes. About the only common ground is the campaign territory of improving recognition and support. And even within most disability clusters there are widely divergent opinions and perceptions, we are far from a common shared view about what carers should do as opposed to paid staff etc and sometimes we are in conflict with campaigning disabled people themselves who resent our "interference".