Social work practitioners play a central role in ensuring that carers receive information, advice and help. New Research in Practice resources and tools aim to support social work with carers.
There are approximately 4.7 million unpaid carers in England who provide continuing help and support to a relative, partner or friend. There were approximately 120,000 young carers aged between 5 and 17 years. The Care Act 2014 gives carers a legal right to an assessment of their needs and suitable support to help them in their role as a carer and social workers play a central role in ensuring that carers receive advice, information and help.
Social work with carers learning resources and tools
Commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care and developed by Research in Practice, the social work with carers resources and tools were developed in partnership with carers and offer learning to make a difference to the lives of carers. The tools and resources include:
Reflect on common challenges carers face and consider how social workers can support them using examples of carers’ situations. Each example contains an audio and a story of how the social worker comes to be involved with a one-page profile and an ecogram. There are also questions to prompt reflection.
Find out more about the ethics, law and capabilities related to social work with carers, alongside important evidence of good practice. There are also top tips for practice from carers.
Use blank tools to support your practice when working with carers.
Social work with carers
There are approximately 4.7 million unpaid carers in England who provide continuing help and support to a relative, partner, or friend. Access resources to support social work practice with carers.
Carers
A carer is someone who provides unpaid support to a relative or friend who could not manage otherwise. A carer might be an adult, a child or a young person. Carers may care for a person who is ill, older, disabled or who experiences mental health difficulties or alcohol or other drug addiction. Everyone's experience of caring will be unique to them and the person they care for.