PEMBROKESHIRE County Council’s Team around the Family have been recognised for their commitment to and support for carers and their families.
The TAF team have achieved the Investors in Carers Silver Level award; a scheme which is delivered by Hywel Dda University Health Board and supported by its local authority and third sector partners in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
The Investors in Carers initiative was originally designed to help health facilities such as GP practices, areas within hospitals and other organisations focus on and improve their carer awareness and enhance the help and support they give carers of all ages. TAF was assessed against the six themes within the scheme: Carer Lead, Staff training, Identification, Information and Support for carers and Evaluation.
Isobel Arnold, Carer Lead, said: “The Team Around the Family are extremely pleased and proud to have achieved the Investors in Carers Silver Award status through the Hywel Dda Health Board scheme.
“We are always striving for ways in which to improve upon the quality of our service and take a keen interest in helping the needs of adult carers and young carers in Pembrokeshire.
“Gaining this award helps us demonstrate the efforts being made by preventative, early intervention services to adopt and promote best practice principles in identifying and supporting Unpaid Carers of all ages”.
A carer is someone, of any age, who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems. Anyone can become a carer; in most cases becoming a carer is not out of choice, it just happens.
Cllr Tessa Hodgson, Cabinet Member for Social Services, congratulated the Team around the family on the award, adding: “I would like to praise this fantastic team who are striving hard to ensure they provide the best possible support to carers in our county.
“I would also like to thank and praise the carers themselves who are continually working so hard to care for their vulnerable loved ones. You are so valued by those you care for and are doing an amazing job.”
For more information about the Investors in Carers scheme or for useful advice for carers, please visit: www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/carers
