What is an unpaid carer?
The definition of an unpaid carer is: ‘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’. (NHSE 2022).
National Statistics
In 2019, using population projections from the ONS and polling by Carers UK it can be estimated that 8.8 million adults in the UK are carers.
Research published by the Social Market Foundation in 2018 using the Understanding Society dataset estimated that there are 7.6 million family carers over the age of 16 in the UK.
The 2019 GP Patient survey found that 17% of the population in England over the age of 16 are carers. Carers UK continues to use the Census figures as they are the biggest dataset concerning carers in the UK alongside more recent estimates.
What is happening in South Yorkshire
Working to the Long Term Plan ambitions for carers the South Yorkshire Integrated Care System (ICS) has committed to ensuring a collaborative approach to the actions to improve the experience of carers in Local Authority, Voluntary, Community, Social Enterprise (VCSE) and Health settings.
We know that a collaborative approach is vital to taking action as carers are represented at every level through our system. We have a rich history in South Yorkshire of working pro actively with carers evidenced by our existing joined up approach at Place.
We are continuing our collaborative approach by bringing together learning to ensure carers are supported across the region. This includes the Carers Resource Pack - the locally named ‘Practitioners Guide to Carers Support. Click on each Place below to find out more about the packs.
Free access to tailored digital resources to support unpaid carers
Carers UK and NHS England are giving all unpaid carers in England free access to Carers UK Digital Resource for Carers. Unpaid carers can be provided with an access code allocated to your Integrated Care Board (ICB). Carers UK has published guidance and resources for professionals to support information sharing.