In response to feedback from 2018’s Annual Survey and Focus groups Richmond Carers Centre piloted two Carers Information and Support Sessions last autumn: a session for parent carers of a child or adult with Autism, and one for parent carers of a child with a mental health need.
Aim of the sessions:
– For carers to feel recognised and valued in their caring role
– For carers to feel better able to provide support to the person for whom they care
– For carers to feel more informed about their rights and entitlements
– For carers to feel more confident in their caring role-To provide an opportunity for parent carers to meet with other parents who care for a child with additional needs
– To enable carers to access specialist advice and support relevant to the needs of the person they are caring for
– To improve carers’ knowledge of the support available locally
– To improve our understanding of the unique needs of parent carers and how best we can offer support
– To provide an opportunity to network with other organisations supporting carers in the borough and share information about support services to improve knowledge
Outcomes for parent carers and professionals:
– Useful discussion about how Richmond Carers Centre can support parent carers
– Both parents and professionals shared contact details for ongoing support
– Shared knowledge and experience between parent carers and professionals
– Useful discussion about how Richmond Carers Centre can support parent carers
Carers’ feedback:
– Very informative
– Very good advice and discussion with all professionals
– An opportunity for parents to share information with other parents
– Wealth of experience and expertise among parents
– Good to share tips
– Sessions covering anxiety and self-harm would be useful
– I think it would be helpful to have a dedicated slot [at each session] for organisations present to explain who they are/what they do
Thank you to everyone who attended. More Carers Information and Support sessions will follow in 2019 and these will be publicised online and in future newsletters.
Source: Richmond Carers Centre
