Adult Care, Housing and Public Health Market Position Statement: Adult Care Market and Demand

Demographic

In Rotherham, there is a predicted 31,500 unpaid carers, meaning at least 12% of people living in Rotherham fulfil an unpaid caring role. As Rotherham’s ageing population increases, it is predicted that more people will identify as an unpaid carer. Additionally, findings from Carers UK July 2021 suggest there has been a large increase in new carers since the start of the pandemic.

An unpaid carer is somebody who provides care in any form but does not receive an hourly rate of pay. (An unpaid carer could be in receipt of carers allowance or working whilst still caring)

Rotherham Parent Carer Forum

The Council’s Borough that Cares Strategic Framework 2022-25 provides a strategic framework with a purpose to ensure unpaid carers can live well, be active and have fulfilled lives.

Table 9. Services to support Unpaid Carers

Dementia Cafés and Dementia Support Worker Service

A grant agreement is in place with a voluntary and community sector (VCS) provider to provide a Dementia Café and Carers Dementia Support Worker Service. This arrangement is in place until March 2024.

Dementia Cafés

Several Dementia Cafés take place monthly at a range of locations across the borough. The cafes provide an opportunity for unpaid carers (who support a person who lives with dementia) to meet, receive support, access information, and advice whilst the person with dementia can join in a range of activities.

In April 2023, a new Golden Memories café was launched to support the BAME community.

Dementia Support Worker Service

The Carers Dementia Support worker service provides individually tailored support, advice, and information to unpaid carers in a setting of their choice.

In 2023, the Council will seek to procure services to support unpaid carers who care for people with Dementia.

Carers Emergency Service

Commissioned through the Better Care Fund, the Carers Emergency Service provides vital replacement care in the persons home in situations where the unpaid carer (one who provides a substantial amount of care) is unexpectedly and due to an emergency, unable to undertake their caring role. Following an unsuccessful procurement process in 2021, the Rotherham Foundation Trust, is currently contracted to provide replacement care, within 2 hours of the request, as directed by the outcome of a Carers Assessment and/or Registration to the Scheme and pre-determined contingency plan, for a period of up to 48 hours. Formal care services are put in place should they still be required post the 48-hour period.

• The current contract is in place until September 2023 with an option to extend to March 2024.

The Council will seek to procure a new service in 2023.

Unpaid Carers Home Care and Support Service

This service is provided by a VCS provider via the Home Care and Support Framework, the service provides domiciliary care for people with eligible needs under the Care Act, where it is also identified that they have an unpaid carer that would benefit from the advice, information and additional support available from this provider.

Commissioning Intentions Summary

• The Council will continue to support unpaid carers and recognise unpaid carers for the invaluable commitment cares make in providing support and care.
• The Council will review the expenditure from the BCF for the carers’ services during 2023/24 with a view to maximising the offer from the available resources.
• In 2023, the Council will seek to procure services to support unpaid carers including specifically for unpaid carers caring for people with dementia and the Carers Emergency Service.
• The Borough That Cares Strategy outlines three areas of focus to be delivered on from 2022-2025, Focus 1: Carer Cornerstones, Focus 2: Creating Communities of Support and Focus 3: Carer Friendly Borough.