New self-management programme to support carers

There are 6.5 million carers in the UK today[1], providing unique support to people living with a long-term health condition. Carers face many daily challenges, including dealing with mental and physical strain.

To help carers improve their health and wellbeing, self management uk, a charity leading provider of self-management training and education, has recently launched a new programme, Self Management for Life Carers.

This new programme builds on the success and experience of previous self-management training for carers. It was piloted in 2014, in partnership with Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group and Bromley Carers, a local charity.

The pilot’s report, Self-management for Life Carers Programme Pilot Report (2014)[2], shows positive behavioural change for participants. Carers said they felt more positive and able to speak about their situation and seek out the right level of support from local organisations and others.

Cheryl Berry, projects and policy manager at self management uk, said: “This new programme is based on over 12 years’ of experience. It covers a wide range of ideas to support carers to be healthy, confident, knowledgable and safe within their role, and most importantly, to be able to recognise and respond to their own needs. It brings together best practice, innovation and interaction, to offer carers the opportunity to learn from shared experience, and the experimentation of new supportive skills and techniques.”

Sarah Shameti, who supported the development of this new programme, said: “As a carer for my mother for over three years, I often found myself burying my emotions away and pretending I could just get on. It was through attending a self-management course I was able to start to see how detrimental that was, and not just for my own wellbeing. I became more aware of my own needs and, rather than my needs being selfish and less important, I realised that, if they were neglected, the support I was able to offer was weakened. By being stronger myself, I was able to be stronger for my mum. Through this new programme, I was able to try out new activities and learned even more. I hope all carers are able to access this course.”

A carer, who attended a self-management course in Devon, said: “This course has given me time to think about me for the first time in years; it has made me realise that I too have needs. I am determined to use the two hours a week I have given myself as ‘off’ caring duties, from now on, to concentrate on something that gives me pleasure: taking up painting which I loved years ago. It was only with the help of the course and action planning that I managed to pick up a paintbrush again.”

The government’s Carers Strategy: Second National Action Plan 2014 – 2016 (Department of Health, 2014)[3] recognises that they need support “to stay mentally and physically well and treated with dignity”. One of the government’s priority areas is “Supporting carers to remain mentally and physically well”. self management uk has been working with commissioners up and down the country to deliver on the carers’ agenda, supporting carers, social and healthcare professionals and local communities.

ENDS.

Notes to Editors:

1. For further media information, please contact 03333 445 840 or email [email protected]
2. self management uk is a charitable organisation, leading provider of self- management education, training and support. We have over 12 years’ experience working with patients, carers, healthcare professionals, clinicians and commissioners. We work with patients and carers to help them manage the day-to-day impact of living with a long-term condition. We collaborate with commissioners and clinicians to improve outcomes for patients with any long-term health conditions, including diabetes, arthritis, and COPD.