Haringey Council to launch carers strategy

The council says it has worked with “nearly 4,000 carers” to develop the new approach reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Alexandra House, headquarters for Haringey Council

Haringey Council is set to launch its carers strategy which aims to improve the lives of those who provide unpaid care.

The three-year strategy will be rolled-out this autumn and reflects the voices of “nearly 4,000 carers”, according to Lucia das Neves, the council’s cabinet member for health, social care and wellbeing.

The document, which will go to cabinet for final approval, outlines the council’s “commitment” to “identifying, supporting, and valuing” unpaid carers.

Alongside thousands of carers, it was produced with the council’s partners across the health, social care and the voluntary sectors.

The 2021 census found that there were 16,891 residents in Haringey providing unpaid care, which equates to 7.2% of the population aged five and over.

According to the council this is a 9.3% increase from 2011, a trend seen across England and Wales and “potentially influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic”.

Around 3.5% of the population provided up to 19 hours of care a week, 1.7% provided between 20 and 49 hours, while 2.1% provided 50 or more hours.

Women made up a “significant majority” of unpaid carers in Haringey, accounting for 59.5% of this group.

The council noted a 24% increase in residents aged 65 and over between 2011 and 2021, and estimates that there are now 3,800 carers aged over 65 in the borough. This figure is expected to rise “around 3% annually”.

Action points in the strategy include training frontline staff to identify and support carers (particularly those harder to reach), developing contingency plans with carers, and ensuring housing repairs and adaptations are carried out promptly.

Further actions include the creation of ‘one stop shops’ and ‘carer drop-ins’, offering regular health checks for carers. and piloting respite solutions such as technology- assisted care.

Cllr das Neves, said: “Building on our previous learning, this new plan reflects the voices of nearly 4,000 carers who have engaged with us through surveys, workshops and community events over the past year.

“We’ve listened closely to carers from all walks of life, including those from minoritised communities. We’ve worked together to identify key areas for improvement, particularly around access to support, inclusive service design and better communication.

“Carers have helped shape this strategy every step of the way, from walk-in library sessions and Carers Rights Day to coffee mornings and community networks.

“What we heard was clear: carers value opportunities to connect, share their unique experiences and work collaboratively with councillors and officers to drive change. Their stories and insights have helped us co-produce a strategy that is grounded in lived experience and focused on making our services work for our carers.

“This will be a roadmap for change and we will endeavour to improve wellbeing, resilience and recognition for carers of all backgrounds.

“We look forward to launching the strategy in October and continuing to work side by side with carers to bring their priorities to life.”

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