3rd October 2024
The Southern Health and Social Care Trust has teamed up with Ulster University to consider how they can support family carers of adults with a learning disability.
People with a learning disability are living longer, most with a family carer. Northern Ireland has a higher proportion of people with a learning disability living at home and being cared for by family than anywhere else in the UK.
There are over 1800 unpaid carers of adults with a learning disability living in the Southern Trust.
The Trust commissioned Ulster University to undertake a research project to explore the needs of family carers. This included focus groups and a survey with family carers and co-production workshops with carers and other statutory and voluntary partners to inform the development of a community model.
The research clearly shows that there is an ageing population of people with learning disabilities with complex needs in the Southern area, being cared for by an even older population of family carers with their own needs. It also highlights a need for better support and training opportunities for carers and siblings.
Jan McGall, Director of Mental Health and Disability for the Southern Trust explains:
“Family carers are the cornerstone of caring, however we recognise that this caring role can be demanding with physical and emotional impacts on the carer, many who also have their own health conditions to cope with. We absolutely appreciate the invaluable role of carers and know that the downturn in services due to the COVID-19 presented them with additional challenges.
“It is imperative that family carers are supported to continue to care for their loved ones. Through this research we aimed to identify the needs of carers to inform how we can better plan and develop services to support them into the future. We sincerely thank all of those carers and stakeholders who participated so openly in this project and the research team at Ulster University for this independent expertise.” 
A series of operational recommendations have been made from the report for the Trust as well as strategic recommendations for consideration along with partner statutory, community and voluntary agencies.
The report and an action plan has been shared with regional health and social care partners and carers.
The Trust’s Adult Learning Disability Carer’s Consultants have started to work on three key areas; planning for carers; training; and transition and will be inviting carers to work with them to progress these recommendations.
The full report can be downloaded here.
If you would like to find out more or get involved Email: ald.carerteam@southerntrust.hscni.net
Training for family carers
A series of awareness sessions for family carers is now available, covering a variety of topics including; carers assessments, emotional/mental health, understanding direct payments/self directed support, dementia awareness, occupational therapy, behaviours that challenge, epilepsy, and speech and language therapy.
| Date | Time | Venue |
| Monday 14 October | 10am-12.45pm | Drumcashel House, Rathfriland Road, Newry
|
| Monday 21 October
|
10am-12.45pm | Linenbridge Day Centre, Banbridge
|
| Thursday 24 October | 10am-12.45pm | Drumcashel House, Rathfriland Road, Newry
|
| Monday 4 November
|
10am-12.45pm | Callan Room, St Lukes Hospital, Armagh |
| Monday 11 November | 10am-12.45pm | Russell Drive, Lurgan
|
Refreshments will be provided.
Carers are invited to contact Bronagh to book:
Tel: 028 375 66105