THERE are an estimated 150,000 unpaid carers in Essex who play a vital role in supporting people across the county to live independently within their own homes and communities.

Whilst rewarding, caring can also be demanding. Children, young people and adults can face many challenges. Maintaining school attendance, employment, social activities and friendships can be hard and that can impact carers’ own physical, emotional and financial wellbeing. 

Essex County Council (ECC) has today (Monday 14th February 2022) launched its proposed Essex Carers All Age Strategy 2022-26 Commitments.  These commitments have been produced with carers themselves and the many voluntary and community sector organisations that support them.  We are now asking the many more carers across Essex their views about them. 

Our commitments to carers:

• We will ensure carers can easily access the information, advice, guidance and support when they need it, early into their caring role.
• We will develop professional practice and processes to improve identification of, and support to carers.
• We will improve transitions for carers as they move through specific phases or life events in their caring role.
• We will ensure carers have access to good quality support including short breaks.
• We work to ensure carers’ needs and rights will be understood and recognised across Essex communities. 
• We recognise that carers will be the experts that influence, shape and be involved in the decisions that are intended to improve their support and wellbeing.

Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, Cllr John Spence said: “Unpaid carers are heroes in our communities, often putting their lives on hold to support their loved ones.

“It can be a rewarding task but does not come without its challenges. We want to make sure we are there for these individuals and support them when they need it. 

“We have been listening to carers from across the country to understand how we can improve on what we already do and what will make a difference to them in their caring role. Following this engagement, we have been able to co-produce with them our six commitments to carers which we are now asking the wider care community to feedback on.” 

ECC is reaching out directly to carers of all ages to engage on these commitments. Communities in the county are also welcomed to have their say by taking part in the online survey between Monday 14th February and 13th March 2022.

The draft commitments and online survey can be found here: https://consultations.essex.gov.uk/rci/essex-carers-all-age-strategy-2022-26-consultation/

Feedback received will be used to help shape the final 2022-26 Essex Carers All-Age Strategy due to be launched in April 2022.

If you require the survey in an alternative format, please contact [email protected].