Care and support for Carers

Make 2023 the year you… Care for a carer

In the next in our series about little changes we can make in 2023 that can have a big impact, we’re looking at unpaid carers.

Every day, thousands of local folk are selflessly helping others with day to day needs. This army of unsung heroes are known as ‘unpaid carers’, bringing practical help, cheer and comfort to vulnerable people in our community.

But caring is demanding - and it can be isolating and lonely at times.

So, make 2023 the year YOU care for a carer in your life.

Schedule in some time to pop round for chat, or offer to help with groceries, or with getting to appointments, or with finding some ‘me time’.

But also check in to make sure they are aware of the support they’re entitled to.

It’s thought there could be as many as 3,000 unpaid carers in Orkney – with only around 400 receiving support.

By law in Scotland, carers can seek support through their local council to help them continue caring. In Orkney, Crossroads Care is the local organisation appointed by Orkney Islands Council and Orkney Health and Care to coordinate that support. Help ranges from free respite care for unpaid carers so they can take a break from caring, as well as advice, information, emotional support and advocacy in what can be a stressful and complex time.

It’s worth noting that carers come in all shapes and sizes – they can be young people looking after parents, adults looking after elderly relatives, or a friend or neighbour looking out for someone they know – and many don’t know about the support at hand.

If that sounds like someone you know – a friend, a work colleague, or maybe even yourself – read on to find out more about the support available and how to access it.

Sarah's story

Local woman Sarah Norquoy spoke to us late last year about caring for her mum, what led her to seek support from Crossroads Orkney, and the difference it’s made:

“I was getting to the stage I was burnt out and tearful. I said to myself, I need to face facts. This is not going to get easier. Once they (Crossroads) helped me get ongoing support in place, I was able to regain some confidence and perspective too."

Read Sarah's full story here.

What if I'm an unpaid carer?

Here at Orkney Islands Council we know that some of our colleagues balance their work with caring responsibilities, whether for sick, older or disabled relatives, partners or friends. We want to support colleagues who are carers and offer a number of options that may help staff to manage work and caring responsibilities. These include Flexible Working, Career Break and Leave of Absence policies, and flexi-time. You can view all these policies on MyView - and then talk to your manager about your situation and the support you need.

We hope this will help you make a big difference this year to a carer you know. Together let’s help make 2023 the best it can be for our carers.

More about support for unpaid carers in Orkney

All unpaid carers in Scotland are eligible for support to help them care, under the Carers (Scotland) Act.

Manager of Crossroads Orkney, Arlene Montgomery, said: “Our message to anyone caring for someone is that we’re here to help you enjoy life and continue that caring role for as long as you want to.

“Carers come in all shapes and sizes – they can be youngsters looking after parents, adults looking after elderly relatives, or a friend or neighbour looking out for someone they know.

“Unpaid carers are the absolute backbone giving so much to ensure other people have a quality of life – and they’re entitled by law to support to help them enjoy life too.

“We know taking the first step to get support can be daunting – but we also know the pressure of caring. It’s a 24/7 job and one that’s of such importance in our community – no-one should feel they have to shoulder it alone.”

To talk about your caring role and the kind of support you could access, contact Crossroads Care Orkney on 01856 870500 or by email carers@crossroadsorkney.co.uk, or visit them at Kirkwall Travel Centre, West Castle Street, Kirkwall KW151GU.

You can also:

• Visit the NHS Inform website https://www.nhsinform.scot/caring
• Call the national helpline 0800 011 320.
• Contact Orkney Islands Council's Social Work team by calling 01856 873535 or emailing Orkney Health and Care OHACfeedback@orkney.gov.uk (This email is monitored office hours only).

More about the legal rights of unpaid carers in Scotland:

The Carers Act, passed by the Scottish Government in 2018, enables unpaid carers to seek help and support from Councils and other support organisations. In Orkney, Crossroads Carers Orkney is appointed by Orkney Health and Care to coordinate that support.