COMMUNITY FAMILY CARER SUPPORT
Margaret Rundall of the charity Hft explains some of the support is out there for Carers
I
f you are one of the thousands of families who have a learning
disabled son or daughter you may not always find it easy to get the support you need to help you plan a fulfilling life for yourself and your child.
Hft is a national charity. Every day our creative and resourceful thinking helps people to get the most out of life. Founded by pioneering families fifty years ago, we continue to work in partnership with the people we support and their family and friends to understand their individual needs and goals.
Our staff expertise includes supporting people with complex needs, challenging behaviour and specific syndromes like autism spectrum disorders. Our person-centred support, combined with our leadership in using personalised technology, enables people with learning disabilities to live more fulfilled lives.
Hft knows that many families find it difficult to get the information they need and can be unaware of their rights, and as a consequence can feel isolated and, at times, quite desperate. This is where Hft can help.
Hft and the RAF have a long relationship going back many years as over 100 people living with Hft today have parents who served or are still serving in the RAF. The RAF Benevolent Fund is an extremely generous supporter of Hft’s work assisting these RAF family beneficiaries. There are a further number whose parents served with the Army and Hft also receives support from Army Benevolent Fund. We are extremely grateful for the generous support received from both.
As a national charity we creatively support people with learning disabilities. We know that family carers whose relatives with learning disabilities live at home (that is 67% of people with learning disabilities1
relatives do not view themselves as carers but simply as mum and dad, brother/sister, aunt/uncle or grandparents. This means they can be hesitant about asking for support for themselves and/or may be unaware of the systems and benefits, both local and national, to which they are entitled.
Hft set up its Family Carer Support Service (FCSS) seventeen years ago in response to a survey carried out into the needs of family carers. Overwhelmingly, the survey found there was a need for free, clear, impartial information.
Its aim today is the same as it was in 1995 – ‘To help family carers and their relatives with learning disabilities live full, well supported lives by providing up-to-date, thorough, impartial and free advice and information to help them at every stage of the lives of their relative.’ Some of the team are family carers themselves, with knowledge and personal experience of the issues affecting family carers.
The FCSS provides supports to families in the following ways:
• Through one-to-one support by telephone, letter or email. Hundreds of people make use of this and sometimes an individual query can take many hours for the FCSS team to research a full and helpful response. They discuss possible plans of action and carers often call back to report on successful outcomes.
“It has been difficult to get information locally – nobody seemed able to tell me how the system worked. Hft’s FCSS acted as a springboard for further information.. I know I can ring them any time.”
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• Through Family Carer workshops where family carers can meet others and share experiences and find out more about their rights as a family carer, and about such as housing and money matters. Most of the courses are relevant whatever the age of their relative, but there are also courses specifically designed to suit a particular phase in life, such as preparing for the transition into adulthood or facing the future as an older family carer.
40 Envoy Summer 2012
“I felt supported by other carers and it was good knowing I am not alone with my concerns and frustrations.”
• Through regular Family News Digests highlighting the current issues and legislation.
“This is the best publication relating to family carers and their rights. There have been so many informative articles I have posted it on to friends.”
• Through resources focused on family carer issues, for instance explaining how legislation such as the Mental Capacity Act affects families, how to plan for transition for their son /daughter, and a directory of resources and initiatives. An annual information brochure is also produced giving details of holidays in the UK and abroad.
“Now we have learnt what help there is and what we are entitled to and where to go for help.”
The FCSS also works in partnership with a number of organisations and government bodies to provide support and resources for family carers more widely and to ensure family carers have a voice in national care policies.
An independent evaluation carried out by the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities found that the FCSS plays ‘a key role in helping family carers navigate the complexities of the education, health, social care and benefits systems’. It also said the FCSS:
• ‘is a highly regarded service which gives people the information they find difficult to get anywhere else
• is trusted because it is independent of statutory services
• gives people the confidence and knowledge to plan fulfilling lives for their learning disabled relatives and for themselves’
If you would like to talk to one of the FCSS team about any issue to do with learning disability, or would like to hear more about local workshops or receive regular information just call 0117 906 1751 or email
familycarersupport@hft.org.uk 1 The Centre for Disability Research
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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