Carers Week
Cecelin and Nadeem are Patient and Carer Experience Coordinators at the Trust. Their role is to support the wider Patient Experience team to improve the overall patient, service user and carer experience at BCHC.
With lived experience of caring responsibilities themselves, Cecelin and Nadeem know all too well how important it is to support carers in need.
Read about the work that the pair do and how they are able to support carers we work with.
Hi Cecelin and Nadeem, could you tell us about your roles as Patient and Carer Experience Coordinators?
As Patient and Carer Experience Coordinators, we work across the Trust to ensure there is a strong focus on improving the patient and carer experience. We do this through many ways, such as site visits, roadshows, events, surveys and more.
How important is it that we recognise carers?
It’s incredibly important. As one of the largest community-based NHS Foundation Trusts in the country, we want all carers and families to have access to the support they need. We recognise that carers are an important part in the care of our patients.
How do you support carers that come to you?
We support carers by listening to their concerns and signposting them to the appropriate organisation. It can be overwhelming at times to know what help is available for carers, and we are here to make it a little bit easier. No carer is the same, there are many different types of carers such as a dementia carer, a parent carer, a young adult carer and more.
Carers may need support in a variety of ways such as:
- Registering carer status with their GP
- Receiving a carers assessment
- Welfare/benefit entitlement checks
- Lasting power of attorney/ deputyship
- Attending local carer groups, events, and activities
- Accessing carer rights in the workplace
- Wellbeing grants, respite and carers breaks
- Gaining a carers identification badge.
Have you had any lived experience of being a carer yourself, if so, how was that experience?
Cecelin: I have had lived experience as a dementia parent carer for numerous years whilst working full time. I learned not to cope alone or with immediate siblings only. I reached out to appropriate organisations for me as a carer and medical professionals for my parent. This helped to create a good support network enabling me, the principal carer, to have a decent work/life balance.
Nadeem: I did not recognise myself as a carer but felt it was my duty to look after my aging parents with medical conditions. I balance work life with my caring responsibilities, which can be stressful, an emotional strain and at times, leave me feeling burnt out. I realised I needed to make time for me, do an activity I enjoyed to help look after my mental health and physical wellbeing to continue in my caring role.
What would you say to someone who is a carer for their loved one and needs a little help?
Cecelin: I would ask the following questions and provide the information where possible:
- Have you had your statutory carers assessment to identify your needs and impact of caring on your life/wellbeing?
- Are you a working carer? If so, explore and request carer rights in the workplace such as carers leave or flexible working.
- What matters to you in your caring role, are there any difficulties? Reach out and expand your support network if you need it.
- Are you aware of your local organisations or services for carers? Identify activities available in your local area and reduce social isolation.
- Are you in receipt of the Carers Allowance Benefit or have you had a welfare benefits entitlement check?
- Have you registered as a carer with your GP practice? It’s important to support your mental/physical health too!
