Identification card unlocking recognition for unpaid carers

Oxfordshire's unpaid carers can now apply for a photo identification card enabling them to prove they are a carer and share their emergency contact details quickly, as well as giving access to support and useful information.

The photo identification (ID) cards are being arranged through Carers Oxfordshire, a service provided by Action for Carers Oxfordshire with funding support from Oxfordshire County Council. They can help in a range of situations from collecting medication on someone else's behalf to notifying the emergency services that someone depends on you.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: "Unpaid carers are a crucial part of our health and social care system and it's only right that we look to support them wherever possible.

"Providing carers with a card, identifying their role in caring for another person, can significantly ease a person's path to receiving the help they are entitled to, making everyday challenges less stressful.

"They also offer carers some reassurance that, should they need to receive emergency care themselves and are unable to communicate their caring role, the blue light services will be able to quickly see that another person relies on them and can take immediate steps to provide that additional support."

The Carer ID cards are similar in size to a credit card, with a QR code which provides the phone number for the carer's emergency contact and their GP surgery.

The cards can prove useful when a carer needs to accompany the person they support to medical appointments, when informing employers and teachers of an individual's caring role, and when accessing social care support.

The ID cards can be particularly important if the person a carer supports is admitted to hospital. Once an unpaid carer is identified, where possible, hospital staff will make reasonable adjustments for the carer whilst the patient is on site, to allow them to maintain contact with the person they care for.

This can include access to the ward outside of the usual visiting hours, involvement in the patient's care in hospital and being included in the discussions and consultations around that patient's care, plans for their discharge and further support.

Additional support can also be provided to help alleviate the pressures on unpaid carers during a hospital admission, including ward staff working with catering teams to ensure that carers have something to eat and drink if they don't have the time to look after themselves.

If the carer needs a hospital stay, the cards alert healthcare professionals that another person may require immediate support, sometimes at a different location. The QR code links to the details of an emergency contact number, helping hospital staff get in touch with a person who may be able to provide or arrange support while the primary carer receives hospital treatment.

The photo identification cards are an important part of the Oxfordshire all age unpaid carers strategy, which includes in its priorities an aim to better identify carers, to help them feel valued and to support them to live their lives to the full.

Juliet Cocks, Head of Service for Carers Oxfordshire, said: "Carer ID cards can help provide unpaid carers with that extra support that they are entitled to, often at a time when they need it most.

"While we have already provided a number of these cards to carers in Oxfordshire, we know there's a significant amount of people who are undertaking a caring role but have not been formally identified.

"You are an unpaid carer if you have someone who relies on you to stay safe and well. They could be a neighbour, friend, family member or anyone else who cannot manage without your help.

"Unpaid carers don't need to feel alone. These carers are doing something incredible, and we want them to feel noticed and supported. I'd urge anyone who thinks they may be an unpaid carer to reach out to us."

Carer ID cards are available for free by applying through Carers Oxfordshire's website.

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