List of Publications | Latest Content | What's Important | Frequently Asked Questions

Strategy for Carers 2005-2008 Contents and Foreword

Foreword
Welcome to the North Lanarkshire Strategy for Carers 2005 – 2008. Since 1999, carers, local carer organisations, North Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire have worked together to achieve positive changes in the lives of the many carers in North Lanarkshire who provide unpaid support and or help to relatives, partners, friends and neighbours.

These changes have been driven by the Carers Strategy Implementation Group, which both produced and implemented the Strategy for Carers 2001-2004. This group has representation from individual carers, local carer organisations and groups and statutory agencies.

Significant legislative changes have taken place over the past few years. Carers are now explicitly recognised as 'key partners in the provision of care'. Also, carers are now entitled to an independent assessment of their ability and willingness to provide care.

In North Lanarkshire, considerable progress has been made to improve the lives of carers, including young carers. In particular, a comprehensive support service for carers is in place and a carers led organisation, North Lanarkshire Carers Together, is successfully promoting the involvement of carers, representing their views and ensuring they have access to a wide range of information. A wide range of organisations and groups are providing direct support to carers and others are providing support through respite opportunities. Funding from the Scottish Executive and the Social Work Department has provided the required resources to make these and other developments possible.

Further work is required to ensure continuing improvement in the lives of the many carers in North Lanarkshire who provide support to the people they care for. This document reviews the progress made and sets out a new action plan for the work to be undertaken over the next three years.

By reading the Strategy you will gain greater awareness of the issues facing carers in their daily lives. In addition, you will gain a better understanding of how we plan to support, inform and involve carers in North Lanarkshire over the next three years.

Elizabeth Seaton
Chairperson North Lanarkshire Carers Together

Jim Dickie
Director of Social Work North Lanarkshire Council

Martin Hill
Modernisation Director  NHS Lanarkshire

Contents

    • Introduction
    • Who is a Carer?
    • Carers in North Lanarkshire
    • Why Produce a Strategy
    • Some Key Themes
    • Funding Carer Support
    • Legislative and Planning Context
  • Section 2 Links with Carers Strategy Implementation Group and Partnership in Practice
  • Section 3 Voice for Carers and Information for Carers
  • Section 4 Resourcing Carers 
  • Section 5 Supporting Carers
  • Section 6 Carers Health and the NHS
  • Section 7 Young Carers
  • Section 8 Black and Ethnic Minority Carers and Outcomes for Carers
  • Section 9  Appendix1 Key Legislation
  • Section 10 Appendix 2 Joint Planning Structure
  • Section 11 Appendix 3 Carer Support Organisations in North Lanarkshire and Appendix 4 Carer Development Funding 2004/2005

If you have any views or comments to make about the Strategy for Carers, please contact us by letter, phone or email at the "Contact Us" box at the right of your screen.

Additional copies of this Strategy can either be downloaded from the right hand side of your screen or contact us.

Back to main page Go to next page

A to Z of Content | Help | Site Map