Assessment

Recent pronouncements from both government and carers' organisations have expressed disappointment at the low numbers of carers' assessments being undertaken by social care practitioners. The reasons offered for this are varied. They commonly tend to emphasise issues of bureaucratic incompetence, for example the failure by Social Services Departments to provide information to carers about their rights, or else highlighting practitioner attitudes that are out of step with current thinking, for example wanting to retain decision-making power and not involving carers.

Objectives: There has been a global push towards the earlier diagnosis of dementia, but there is little understanding of the transitions along the assessment and diagnostic pathway from the perspective of people affected by memory problems, cognitive impairment and early dementia. This study explores the experience of the assessment and diagnostic pathway for people with cognitive impairment and their family carers.

Independent assessment and access to direct payments are among the new rights accorded to carers under the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000.

The pack includes: introduction with information on: learning disability qualifications and standards; supporting assessment; involving people with learning disabilities and family carers in training; session plans; CD-ROM containing: activity sheets PowerPoint presentations video clips, and pdfs of all four study books with guidance on how to link learning to the relevant NVQ/SVQ.

Drawing on recent guidelines and research this clinical review presents recent knowledge and practice on assessing and helping older carers. The review has sections on: how carers should be identified; how a carer assessment should be undertaken; useful interventions to support carers; and the major challenges facing clinicians regarding assessment. Short case scenarios are used to illustrate the issues.

Objectives: To describe the responses of family carers to the behavioural and psychological symptoms associated with dementia.

The author discusses the SCIE practice guide 'Implementing the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004'.  The online practice guide translates what is known from research and policy into recommendations and practice examples. It is designed to be used alongside existing Department of Health guidance.

Presents an easy read guide to obtaining direct payments and choosing a carer. A Direct Payment is a cash payment from a Local Authority, to enable people to purchase their own services. The power to make Direct Payments is given to Local Authorities under the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996, which came into force on the 1st April 1997. Guidance to accompany the Act specifically included people with a learning disability.

Looks at how the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act will improve the lives of the UK's six million carers.

Drawing on the case of a women who was brain injured following a traffic accident being cared for by her husband, this article highlights why it is important that social workers listen to carers when assessing caring situations. Carers need social workers who can listen to them and can learn from them.