Two thousand carers seen and supported

Two thousand carers seen and supported

Carers feel seen and widespread impact continues.

The success of the carer lanyard continues to develop throughout Kirklees and neighbouring areas:

• Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust have purchased their supply of lanyards. Giving a lanyard to all carers is now embedded in their carer support offer.
• Kirklees Council are looking at how they can develop the scheme.
• We continue to share and celebrate the work with our community alongside partners on our social media networks.
• We have a waiting list of carers wanting a lanyard and are asking all our partners to support the project’s sustainability and look at how they can continue to provide lanyards for those who need them.

What we did

Ahead of Carers Week last year, Healthwatch Kirklees launched the carer lanyard campaign alongside other partner organisations.

This project came about after one of our volunteers, who is also an unpaid carer, told us they are often asked: ‘who are you and why are you here?’ They do not feel that their role as a carer is always recognised and understood. 

The team distributed carer lanyards to many health and social settings throughout Kirklees. Carers wear the lanyard when they visit health and care settings, or they can use the separate card if they prefer.  This helps staff working in health and care services to recognise unpaid carers, to support them and to signpost to carer information and support services. 

It has made a difference to carers we’ve spoken to; 

“I’m often not taken seriously or sometimes completely dismissed as a carer, because of my age and so the lanyard gives me a sense of recognition and makes me feel like I will have less resistance from clinical staff in future.”

“One of my roles is a Carers’ Champion. Our carers greatly appreciate the Lanyards. We would love some more. One patient returned to the  surgery to say how  pleased he was  as he felt it helped when he was out and about with his partner. “

Youthwatch Zone

 Young ambassador for the Carer Lanyard helps identify and support over 350 unpaid carers

Young carer, Chloe Hudson, aged 21, has been with Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation NHS Trust (CHFT) for a few months. She has been caring for her mum, who has epilepsy, since the age of 11 and she volunteers on Ward 20 at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (HRI).

Since volunteering with the Trust, Chloe has been an ambassador for supporting carers and in particular young carers who she meets in her role. This involves promoting the carer lanyard, as well as signposting to other services supporting young carers.

In the last three months, Chloe has helped identify over 350 unpaid carers and has had over 5,400 minutes of quality-of-care calls.

“Being a young carer myself means I understand what other young carers are going through and I can use the right language for them. I can put  myself in their shoes. The young carer can feel like they are not alone!”

The carer lanyard has played a big part in forming the carer strategy run at HRI. This is a coordinated approach through the departments at the hospital, from identifying carers when they arrive in the hospital either in A&E, as an inpatient or outpatient. Also, follow-up calls with carers to speak to them about their needs and to inform them of other services available to them and also important communication at the time of patient discharge; when the responsibilities of a carer may have changed. 

Chloe wishes to stay with CHFT and will soon be starting a Clinical Apprenticeship at HRI.

What next?

• Carers week – 5 – 11th June 2023
  If you are a carer and would like to be part of various local groups click the links below for group details: 

Carers Count Groups and Events

Carers Trust Groups and Events

Share your experiences

Have you used the carer lanyard? 

Healthwatch Kirklees want to know your experiences of using the carer lanyard. What’s good and what could be improved? 

Please leave a review here to have your voice heard by providers. 

Health and social care providers can best improve services by listening to people’s experiences. We make sure NHS leaders and other decision-makers hear your voice and use your feedback to improve care. We welcome your comments and thoughts via email to info@healthwatchkirklees.co.uk or in the boxes below. (Please note comments are moderated before publishing).

Thank you!