An NHS Memory Support Worker referred a SIS Service User (SU) to Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) for a Carer’s Assessment. The SU is the unpaid carer for her husband who has dementia, and she also has a long-term physical health condition. BHCC asked SIS to provide advocacy support to the SU.
An advocacy case was opened with a SIS Bilingual Community Advocate (BA). The BA supported the SU to set up and prepare for the carer’s assessment, then attended it with her. The BA then followed up with the SU to make sure she had understood everything discussed. As part of the assessment, another appointment was made with the organisation Crossroads Care. The BA was present, and healthcare appointment support and emergency backup was put in place. If the SU is unwell or taken into hospital, Crossroads will be able to step in to care for her husband. When she needs to go out to an appointment for herself, a Crossroads carer will be able to come to look after her husband or accompany him out.
As the current bathroom is unsafe for the couple, and their front door difficult to open, a home visit was set up with an Occupational Therapist (OT) to look into adaptations. The OT will check if the SU might be entitled to any grants. The BA was able to alert the OT service that an interpreter will need to be booked for that visit.
Prior to this advocacy case, the SU felt overwhelmed managing everything for herself and her husband without support. She was not aware of what she was entitled to as her husband’s unpaid carer. When she had a medical appointment for herself, she either had to take her husband with her or leave him alone at home. She found this very stressful.
Through this initial advocacy case, the BA identified the need for further advocacy for the SU as she was struggling to access GP appointments for her and her husband. When she did get appointments, an interpreter wasn’t consistently booked. The SU had then had to act as her husband’s interpreter even though she herself also requires an interpreter for appointments. SIS opened a further advocacy case to provide support around this.
The SU now understands and has access to a range of services which she is entitled to as the unpaid carer for her husband. She will get both practical and emotional support with her caring role.
The SU reflected at the end of the case:
“I was extremely pleased to receive assistance from the advocacy service. It helped to relieve my stress and pressure as carer for my husband.”
Feedback from the BHCC Carers Assessment Worker illustrates how using a BA also supports the practitioners working with SUs:
“Having a Bilingual Advocate provides greater efficiency, is more cost effective and provides better outcomes the carer, which in turn reduces the risk of carer breakdown and the potential increase in care needs for the carer and cared for people.”
Note: We collaborate with Advocates to write these stories but remove the names of the Advocates, the language used and other details to ensure confidentiality for Service Users.
