Contents Page 1. Introduction 3 2. Background 4 3. Purpose 5 4. Definition of a Short Break 5 5. Outcomes 6 6. Arranging a Short Break? 7 7. Support Available 9 8. Charging Policy 13 9. Case Study 15 10. How to Access Further Information 16 11. Feedback, Monitoring & Review 17 12. Appendices 18 2 1. Introduction Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership, Clackmannanshire Council and Stirling Council are delighted to present this joint Short Breaks Services Statement for local carers and cared for people in the Clackmannanshire and Stirling area. The Partnership is required under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 to publish a Short Break Services Statement, as the Act recognises short breaks and respite to be an area in which carers need a more robust, reliable and accessible framework. In developing the Statement, the Partnership has relied heavily on the thoughts and opinions of adult and young carers who have responded to our consultation process. The Partnership has also produced a local Carers Strategy due to be published by the end of March 2019. The Strategy can be viewed as a complementary document to this Statement. Although the Short Break Services Statement is a formal document required by law, the Partnership is aiming for the Statement to be a genuinely useful and accessible document that can be relied upon by carers and cared-for persons. The area of Clackmannanshire and Stirling offers a range of short break opportunities to carers in which innovative and creative services can be provided. Indeed, it is the aim of the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 that short breaks are viewed more holistically than before – for example, short breaks are not solely traditional respite services in a care home, but can be a wide range of community-based breaks and activities which may help alleviate the strain and pressures which often accompany the caring role. As this is the first statement of its kind adopted by health and social care services in the area, it is important to acknowledge that the Short Break Services Statement can and will be continuously reviewed and improved upon as time passes and feedback is received. Ultimately, the Partnership’s Short Break Services Statement seeks to offer clarity, assurances, and accessibility to carers and young carers so that they can receive a break from the regular caring role that is often needed. Ian Aitken, Chief Officer Marie Valente, Chief Social Work Officer Celia Gray, Head of Service Children’s Services Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership 3 2. Background Carers Act and Unpaid Carers The overarching aim of the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 is to ensure better and more consistent support for unpaid carers across Scotland, ultimately making their caring role easier and improving their quality of life. To do this the Act enhances the rights of unpaid carers to support them in continuing to care, if they are able and willing to do so, and to allow them to have a life alongside caring. Carers are people who provide care and support to family members, other relatives, friends and neighbours. The people they care for may be affected by disability, physical or mental health issues (often long-term), frailty, substance misuse or some other condition. Some carers care intensively while others care for shorter periods. Some carers are life-long carers, while others may care for shorter periods of time. A carer does not need to be living with the person they care for to be considered a carer. Anybody can become a carer at any time in their life and sometimes for more than one person at a time. 1 Short Break Services Statement The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 requires local authorities to prepare and publish a statement setting out information about short breaks services available for local carers and those that are cared for 2. The aim of the statement is to help carers and people with support needs understand: • What short breaks are • Who can access them • What opportunities are available • How carers can access short breaks and find further information The statement will continue to be reviewed in light of feedback and ongoing development. The statement will provide information to carers and the cared-for person on what we expect to be available locally. There will be a range of options and knowing what is available gives individuals more choice and more control over what support is right for them. It is also the aim that this statement will be useful to professionals and organisations involved in delivering short break options for carers, or supporting carers to access short breaks. 1 Who are carers? http://centralcarers.org/about-us/ 2 Section 35 Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2016/9/pdfs/asp_20160009_en.pdf 4 3. Purpose The purpose of this Short Break Services Statement is to provide information to carers and cared-for people so that they: • Know they can have a break in a range of ways • Are informed about short breaks that are available • Have choice in the short breaks and support they access • Can identify what a short break means for them, and how they can be supported to meet their needs and achieve their outcomes The Short Breaks Services Statement acknowledges that short breaks are of benefit to both the carer and the cared-for person, and are an opportunity to support carers to continue in their caring role and have a life outside of caring. Evidence tells us that better outcomes are achieved if both the carer and the cared-for person have a positive experience of short break provision. The Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) and Clackmannanshire and Stirling Councils will continue to explore opportunities for short breaks with carers and encourage development of and access to different options based on carer preferences and need. While the Short Break Services Statement cannot remove all of the barriers which may prevent carers from getting the break they are looking for, it is designed to help carers and cared-for people to have a better understanding of their rights, and know what opportunities are available to them. 4. Definition of a Short Break A short break is any form of service or assistance which enables the carer(s) to have periods away from their caring routines or responsibilities (this was previously referred to as respite). The purpose is to support the caring relationship and promote the health and wellbeing of the carer, the cared-for person, and other family members affected by the caring situation. Breaks from caring may: • be for short or extended periods • take place during the day or overnight • involve the person with support needs having a break away from home allowing the carer time for themselves • allow the carer a break away with replacement care, if required, in place • take the form of the carer and the person they care for having a break together, with assistance if necessary, providing a break from the demands of their daily caring routines. 5 Examples of support that is available can be found in Appendix 1. 5. Outcomes Outcome means the impact that having a short break can have in supporting carers. They are a way of describing what is important to people and what they are trying to achieve. Some examples of outcomes are: • I feel valued and listened to. • I feel less stressed. • I am able to spend more time with my friends and grandchildren. During our consultation process, carers told us how they had benefited from their short break: “The biggest benefit of a short break is that it gives “A good short break means that you go me the opportunity to away to do ‘normal’ things without the recharge my batteries” anxieties of caring” “Sometimes, it is just about getting out the house on your own to attend meetings, appointments, and to have some time on your own for a few hours knowing that care is in place. I think there is value in getting away for a weekend break, as it enables you to carry on caring” “Even a few hours a week can help. “Having Short Breaks enables You go back refreshed, with a new me to be a successful carers perspective on things” - a few days away can be good for my health and wellbeing” 6 Carers will be supported to identify the need for and potential benefit of a short break. The outcomes of a break will be personal to each carer and cared-for person, but may include: • Carers having more opportunities to enjoy a life outside/alongside of their caring role • Carers feeling better supported • Improved confidence as a carer • Increased ability to cope • Reduced social isolation and loneliness • Increased ability to support the caring relationship • Improved health and wellbeing • Improved quality of life • Reduced likelihood of breakdown of the caring role 6. Arranging a Short Break Short breaks should be planned after an outcome focussed conversation, which may result in an Adult Carers Support Plan or Young Carers Statement being produced. Carers can contact the Carers Centre 3 for an Adult Carers Support Plan/Young Carers Statement, or they may ask their support worker, community care worker, school or GP to make a referral on their behalf. The Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership Framework for Eligibility Criteria for Unpaid Carers was produced in partnership with local carers, and outlines the levels of access to support including funding for short breaks from Stirling Council, Clackmannanshire Council and the Clackmannanshire and Stirling HSCP. Details on Eligibility Criteria can be found within the Partnership’s local Carers Strategy, which has been developed alongside this Statement and is due to be published by the end of March 2019.