Wiltshire Investors in Carers: GP Accreditation Scheme
The Wiltshire Investors in Carers aims to raise awareness of work already being undertaken to support Carers in GP practices in Wiltshire, and to encourage further development work. This scheme for Wiltshire has been developed locally in Wiltshire by local Carers, members of voluntary agencies such as Carers Support, a number of GP surgeries and members of NHS Wiltshire and Wiltshire Council. There are three levels of attainments: bronze, silver and gold.
All practices in Wiltshire attained Quality Outcome Framework (QOF) points in 2009/2010 relating to Carers, which means they have a protocol for the identification of Carers and a mechanism to refer Carers for social services assessment. However, how actively the benefits of identifying yourself as a Carer to the practice are publicised, and the additional support and services Carers receive varies greatly between practices. We hope the scheme will encourage all surgeries to understand and support carers by implementing the suggested actions in the award scheme and develop partnership working with Carer Support Wiltshire.
A number of members involved in the development of the levels will form the ‘Accreditation Panel’ who will oversee the scheme, and award accreditation certificates.
GP Accreditation Launch Roadshow Events
In April, four roadshow events took place to officially launch the GP Accreditation scheme in Wiltshire.
The roadshows were held across the County in Calne, Devizes, Salisbury and Trowbridge and staff from GP Practices, including, GPs, Practice Managers, Practice Nurses and frontline Practice staff, were invited to attend, along with Carers and members of other statutory and voluntary organisations.
The roadshows were incredibly successful with many practices agreeing to undertake the GP Accreditation Scheme. The roadshows involved speakers from Carer Support Wiltshire, from various GP Practices and a short DVD from a Carer.
Below is a video of Emmy Butcher, Practice Manager at Beversbrook Medical Centre in Calne, which was filmed at the Trowbridge event where she spoke about why it is so vital that GP surgeries offer their support to Carers in Wiltshire through sharing good practice used at Beversbrook surgery in Calne.
Here is a video of two of our GP Liaison Workers, Helen Gough and Chris Kay, giving an overview of the GP Accreditation scheme, which was filmed at the Salisbury event.
Below is a video of Emmy Butcher, Practice Manager at Beversbrook Medical Centre in Calne, which was filmed at the Trowbridge event where she spoke about why it is so vital that GP surgeries offer their support to Carers in Wiltshire through sharing good practice used at Beversbrook surgery in Calne.
Carer Support Wiltshire will now work with the GP Practices in Wiltshire to ensure that they are able to fully meet the requirements of the scheme and raise Carer Awareness within their Practices.
Carers Clinics for Carers
Many GP surgeries in Wiltshire offer regular FREE health check clinics especially for carers. It's a chance for carers to have routine tests done such as blood pressure and cholesterol as well as an opportunity to speak to a support worker and/or someone about finance and benefits.
Being a carer often takes up a lot of time and can often have an effect on your health so having a routine check-up could be beneficial to look after yourself like you look after another.
Some GP surgeries also have a Carers Register where you can record your carer status.
We are hopeful that the Wiltshire Investors in Carers will encourage more and more surgeries to offer Carers Clinics, which will part of the award criteria.
Ask in your surgery if they offer a Carers Clinic to find out more.