Carers’ Passport launches in Plymouth
A new Family and Friend Carers’ Passport has been launched in Plymouth to recognise the support and value carers provide.
A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a member of their family or a friend who needs help and support due to illness, disability, a mental health condition or an addiction.
On 28 November 2022 health and social care partners from across Plymouth, including University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Livewell Southwest, Plymouth City Council, Improving Lives Plymouth and St Luke’s, joined together to launch the new Carers’ Passport.
The new Carers’ Passport, which comprises an A5 booklet with information about caring and a credit card sized Carer Identification card, highlights the expertise carers bring and the needs they have in terms of their own health and wellbeing. It will provide:
- A recognisable way for carers to identify their caring role to health, social care and other organisations
- Discounts at participating businesses
- Access to information and support to help with caring
- An opportunity to connect with other carers
- An emergency alert card
- Some discounts in healthcare settings, depending on circumstances
Claire Jukes, Patient Services Manager at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust said, “the passport will not only help carers to identify themselves as carers, but also help all staff to recognise carers and the vital role that they play.
“Through this passport, our organisations are making a commitment to recognise and value the support carers provide, the expertise they bring and the needs they have in terms of their own health and welfare.
“From a Trust perspective, carers can help us to better care for our patients, for instance, involving them in the discharge process can help to avoid readmissions due to carers suffering fatigue.”
The Carers’ Passport also aims to give carers the confidence to talk with health and social care staff about the person they care for and carers are actively encouraged to show the Carers’ Card to professionals to make them aware they are a carer. However, the card should not be seen as ‘proof’ and all appropriate checks with the cared for person should be undertaken to ensure their confidentially is not breached.
To request a Carers’ Passport, Plymouth residents will first need to register with Caring for Carers, a Plymouth City Council commissioned service for adult carers run by Improving Lives Plymouth. Carers can register in the following ways:
- Via the Plymouth Online Directory, just search ‘register as a carer’ in the following link https://www.plymouthonlinedirectory.com/
- By telephone on 01752 201890
- Via email at caringforcarers@improvinglivesplymouth.org.uk (please include your full name, address, date of birth and the name and address of the person you care for)
Carers that are already registered with Caring for Carers will automatically receive a passport in the post.
Additional support is also available for the 800 plus young carers in Plymouth via Time 4 U, a partnership between children’s charity Barnardo’s, Hamoaze House and the City Council’s Youth Services Team.
