All for Carers (AFC) The Caring Families Support Alliance, is a network of organisations working together to improve the ‘Carer Offer’ in Sunderland
Working alongside partners Sunderland CCG, Sunderland City Council and a host of organisations from the voluntary and community sector, AFC unites members around supporting families of Sunderland
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A voice for carers
Working together, the Alliance will examine gaps in provision for carers, while championing the positive work taking place across the city.
Members will come together to share best practice and work as a motivated team to forge new innovative ways of identifying and supporting carers.
The Alliance organises events, workshops and training, all designed to engage families and help build understanding of what support is available and helping them understand their rights.
AFC will examine carer policies from a strategic point of view and work with carers themselves to understand the challenges facing families and individuals.
Carers are and always will be at the heart of everything we do – they will be our expert partner, ensuring that carers always have a prominent voice within and across the city.
Carers Action Group (CAG)
Sitting alongside AFC, the CAG will provide a loudhailer for carers in and around Sunderland.
Via regular meetings, carers provide their views on the carer offer in Sunderland and take a strategic look and insight into the measures that could help improve it.
Not only does AFC utilise the CAG as an important sounding board, the CCG, City Hospitals and Sunderland Council will all feed into this group to help gauge opinion and assess need.
Carers Charter
We believe all Carers have a right to be respected, valued and supported, equally in their caring role, as experts for their cared for and as individuals.
What is a carer?
A carer is anyone who, unpaid, looks after a friend or family member who can’t cope alone due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction. A carer can be any age.
As a carer you can expect
- To be identified as a carer as early as possible, be informed, be respected and included by health and social care professionals.
- To have choice and control about your caring role, get the personalised support you need as a carer to meet you and your family’s needs.
- To be able to stay healthy and well yourself, and for your own needs and wishes as an individual to be recognised and supported.
- To be socially connected and not isolated.
- To be supported to fulfil educational and employment potential, and where possible in maintaining employment.
- If you are a young carer or young adult carer, to be supported so you are able to thrive and develop educationally, personally and socially, and you are protected from excessive or inappropriate caring roles.
Carers in equal partnership
- Supporting and developing training programmes to raise awareness and understanding of the needs of carers and their families, and of local carer support services for health and social staff and partner organisations.
- Carers are recognised as ‘experts by experience’ and are involved in reviewing, monitoring and co-production of services.
- Carers are empowered and supported to manage their caring role and have a life outside of caring.
- All organisations signed up to the charter will work to support and advocate the rights of carers.