The early intervention team at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) has been awarded Caring Together’s Carer Friendly Tick Award – Health, in recognition of their work to identify and support carers.
Annie Plumb, specialist support sister, early intervention team, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said asking a carer “how are you?” can mean so much to them. She added, “As a team we wanted to improve the experience for the person being cared for and carers while in the acute hospital setting.
“By being a visible presence in A&E and other short stay areas, we are able to listen, advise, signpost and offer help and support to carers, which we feel has had a positive impact upon their overall wellbeing and hospital journey.”
On behalf of Caring Together, a charity supporting people caring for family members or friends, a panel of carers assessed the submission from the Trust.
The panel were impressed by the range of work being carried out by the team, and the impact that this has on both carers and those they care for.
A member of the Caring Together assessment panel said, “It is clear that the early intervention team at the CUH is actively promoting the support of carers both in patient and staff settings and that they are succeeding in developing a ‘carer friendly ethos’ which can only have a positive impact on patient care.
“Many thanks to the team for your efforts to support and acknowledge the importance of carers during what can be a difficult and worrying time for them and the people they care for.”
The Trust was awarded the Carer Friendly Tick Award – Health for reasons including:
- Several staff within the team have volunteered for the role of carers champion.
- A carer’s agreement has been developed with input from the carers’ forum.
- Information about carers’ support is displayed around the hospital including on the Trust’s website and on plasma screens in waiting rooms.
Andy McGowan, head of engagement at Caring Together, said, “With three in five of us likely to be a carer at some stage in our lives we are very pleased to see the Trust working in partnership with carers to identify and support people looking after family members or friends within health settings. The work that they are doing makes a real difference.
“Carers being identified by hospitals has benefits to the carer, the person they look after and also enables the hospital staff to fulfil their roles more effectively. It is therefore vital that carers know what they can expect when they are attending the hospital and what support is available.”
He added: “We hope that other health organisations, schools, colleges, universities and communities, will follow in this good work. They can develop their own ways to identify and support carers, and we are here to help them do this. As the number and awareness of carers grows this will be an ever more important part of making sure carers are given the recognition and help they deserve.”
Read more about our Carer Friendly Tick Awards and how your organisation can support carers at caringtogether.org/carer-friendly-tick.
