What is a Carer's Passport?
A Carer's Passport ensures that carers receive identification of their role within the Trust and offers support to them in their caring role.
With this passport you will receive an orange lanyard and ID card identifying you as a carer, which you can wear when visiting any LPFT building to identify you as a carer. Please ask staff if you are not given one or email our dedicated email address lpft.carers@nhs.net.
Identification of Carers
“A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.” - Carers Trust 2016
“A carer is anyone, including children and adults who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid.” - NHS England
“We are the eyes and ears of the Service User. Without us as carers, life would be far worse for our loved one.” - Rose, Carer
The six key principles of the Triangle of Care are:
- Carers and the essential role they play should be identified at first contact with services or as soon as possible after.
- Staff should be aware of carers and trained to engage with carers more effectively.
- Policies and protocols should be in place to ensure confidentiality and improve information with service users.
- Defined roles (Carer Leads or Carer Champions) responsible for carers should be in place.
- Carers should be “introduced” to the service and provided with a range of information.
- A range of care support services should be available to offer or signpost carers to.
NICE guidance has recently been published to support organisations to support carers.
Local commissioners and providers of healthcare have a responsibility to enable the guideline to be applied.
NICE Guidance states carers should receive: ·
- Information and support
- Share information with carers
- Work with and involve carers
- Identify carers
How LPFT supports carers
The Trust recognises the wealth of information and support carers can bring whilst their loved ones are in hospital.
With this in mind, we welcome carers to deliver support in accordance with the patient’s and carers wishes. This could include: ·
- Access to visiting outside of normal hours if appropriate.
- The opportunity to be involved in discussions about the care, treatment and discharge of the patient.
- Working jointly with staff to devise care plans with their loved ones.
- Information and assistance in advance statements/decisions.
- Providing support and reassurance to the patient when having investigations in hospital, e.g. x-rays/blood samples etc.
Carers are politely asked to inform staff when entering or leaving the ward outside of normal hours.
Carers can be provided with a personal password which will allow them to access sensitive or confidential information over the telephone.
If the carer is visiting the Trust for long periods, speak to staff about the availability of the following:
- Half price drinks at Coffee Beanz café at Discovery House on presentation of the passport.
- Flexible visiting hours.
- John’s Campaign - John’s Campaign is about the right of people with dementia to be able to have a family carer stay with them where appropriate.
Getting a carers assessment
The local authority has a legal responsibility to assess what support a carer might need.
A carer is entitled to a carers assessment regardless of their own financial situation, or the level of support that they give to the cared for.
The assessment is for the benefit of the carer and can be completed with or without the presence of the service user. A carer can self-refer to the local authority to request a carers’ assessment or ask a mental health professional to make the referral for them.
To make a referral you will need full contact details of the person who is cared for as well as the carer themselves. A carers’ assessment can be requested by contacting Lincolnshire County Council.
Full contact details
The Carers Team, Customer Service Centre, Witham Park House, Waterside South, Lincoln, LN5 7JN
Phone: 01522 782224 (From 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday)
Phone: 01522 782333 (From 6pm-8am emergency out of hours)
Email: carersservice@lincolnshire.gov.uk
