Priority 1 - Improving information, advice and guidance

Access to clear, concise, accurate and relevant information is a key requirement for carers and will help to avoid, reduce or delay the need for assessment and more intensive support. Carers also want to know when changes are made to services and understand what this means for them and the people they care for. To achieve this, we will:

1. Use sources of information which are consistent, credible, reliable, accessible and up to date which gives Carers the best chance of knowing what is on offer in their communities to support them at any stage in their caring journey;
2. Provide information in a range of formats, making sources of information, advice and guidance easy to find and navigate;
3. Keep pace with technological change by developing and improving digital resources as a primary source of information, and utilising social networks to empower and enable collaboration within communities;
4. Ensure that carers are able to speak to someone if they need to;
5. Support carers to understand the implications of the cared for person’s diagnosis when they are diagnosed and know where to get help and support;
6. Work to a principle of ‘no wrong door’. Statutory agencies shall understand their respective roles, the types of support available to carers and will keep carers up to date on changes to their operations;
7. Make information available for professionals and any agencies who come into contact with carers, including young carers easy to access and signpost to;
8. Support young carers to obtain information safely and provide information which is tailored to their needs and level of understanding;
9. Acknowledge and develop the role of the third sector and community assets in providing peer support;
10. Signpost Carers who want more information about benefits, grants and financial management to relevant financial support and advice;
11. Review our personalisation offer for Carers to enable carers to have more influence over their lives and increased flexibility around how they use the resources they are eligible for.