Teams across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) have been recognised for their commitment to identifying and supporting unpaid carers by achieving Caring Together Charity’s Carer Friendly Tick Award.
The award recognises organisations that demonstrate good practice in identifying carers, understanding their needs and ensuring they are connected to appropriate support. CPFT provides a wide range of community, mental health and specialist health services across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, supporting patients, families and carers in a variety of settings.
Across the Trust, many teams have now achieved the Carer Friendly Tick Award. The achievement reflects a significant organisation-wide commitment to embedding carer awareness and support across every department. Successful teams include:
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Crisis Assessment Team
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Core Central
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Core North
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Core South
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Eating Disorder Services
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Neurodevelopmental Service
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Neurodevelopmental Service Peterborough
- Community Paediatrics (Peterborough)
- Child and Adolescent Substance Use Service
- Dementia Carers’ Support Service
- Integrated Care Team Huntingdon
- Occupational Therapy Children’s Service (Peterborough)
- The Beacon · The Croft Child and Family Unit
- The Darwin Centre for Young People
- YOUnited Referral Hub
The teams have demonstrated a strong commitment to identifying and supporting carers through a range of embedded practices, including:
- Appointing a Carer Champion to lead on carer support and ensure it is integrated across the service.
- Maintaining a dedicated carers policy to guide and strengthen support for carers.
- Including carer-related issues within staff training programmes and team meetings to build awareness and understanding.
- Providing information through a variety of channels and signposting carers to relevant support services.
- Raising awareness of carers through activities linked to key campaigns and awareness days, such as Carers Week, Carers Rights Day and Young Carers Action Day.
As part of the award renewal process every two years, teams are also required to submit an organisational statement and a case study, demonstrating the impact of their work in identifying, supporting and valuing carers.
Caring Together Charity and CPFT have built a strong partnership over many years by working closely together and providing training to help staff better understand and support carers.
Jill Nooij, Caring Together Charity’s Carer Awareness and Voice Lead, said: “We are delighted to see so many CPFT teams achieving the Carer Friendly Tick Award. “It demonstrates a genuine commitment to recognising the vital role unpaid carers play and ensuring they are identified, listened to and supported. We are particularly proud of the progress that has been made in embedding carer awareness across such a large and diverse organisation.”
Caroline Simmons, Operations Director for CPFT Children, Young People and Families Directorate has added: “Families and carers are at the heart of the care we provide. We know that caring responsibilities can have a significant impact on people’s lives, and it is vital that carers feel recognised, valued and supported. We are delighted that so many of our teams have achieved the Carer Friendly Tick Award, demonstrating their commitment to working in partnership with carers and helping them access the advice and support they need.”
