Help for Welshpool's unpaid carers

A new approach to giving carers time to rest and recharge their batteries has been approved.

Powys County Council’s (PCC) Cabinet agreed to formalise the approach to respite care, which the council has been providing according to “legal requirements”, but with no formal policy in place.

It is also a response to The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act (SSWBA) which came into force in April 2016.

People are considered a carer  if they provide unpaid support or care for a family member, partner, child, or friend.

This is because of their age, disability, physical or mental illness, substance misuse or other addiction and who cannot cope without support.

Different types of respite will be available for different time periods, but residential respite is usually available for up to a fortnight and up to six times a year.

The new law gives people more say in how their personal well-being can be maintained.

Under the new guidelines, the types of help that can be offered are:

• Residential: this is where a room in a residential care
• Home is booked for the cared-for person for a short period of time
• Replacement care: if the carer is going away,  care workers can provide care for a short time
• Periods of respite can also be arranged for carers to have regular short periods of support.

Adult Social Services portfolio holder, Cll Myfanwy Alexander, said: “I’m very excited about this work, it’s worth for a moment to appreciate what unpaid carers do for us in Powys and the people they love and look after.”

Cllr Alexander explained that Credu – the carers association in Powys, had been involved in drafting the document.

Cllr Alexander said: “They are key partners for us in keeping our vulnerable who need help and support, happy, well-loved and cherished.”

“What we have done is not take the approach that we know what they like, but we have gone and asked carers what they would like.

“Until you ask someone what they need, you don’t know what they need and you can’t deliver that.”

She also praised Head of Social Services Commissioning, Dylan Owen, and his team for putting the new policy together.

Director of Social Services,  Alison Bulman, said: “The policy is set to provide that flexibility to give people what matters to them.

“It gives us the opportunity to really try that personalisation approach and meeting people’s wellbeing needs across Powys.”

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter