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ℹ️ Introduction
This article explains how to use Ardens resources to support the identification, assessment and management of carers. By the end of this article, you will be able to record a patient's caring role, identify carers using the carer register, assess their needs, and record the outcome along with any support and signposting provided.
Background
Carers play an important role in supporting the health and wellbeing of another person. Identifying carers and understanding their individual circumstances can help practices recognise their needs and provide appropriate support and signposting.
A carer assessment can help identify the impact of the caring role, including the carer's health and wellbeing, support needs and other factors that may affect them.
How Ardens Can Help
Ardens provides a range of resources to help practices:
Reports to identify patients coded as carers, including young carers and adult carers.
Templates to record the carer assessment, health check and support needs, plus tools to assess carer strain
👨⚕️ Identification
Carers can be identified at any point, planned or opportunistic. Ardens helps the practice team record a patient's caring role as soon as it is known, so the carer register stays up to date.
Identify
Carers may be identified during a consultation, when registering with the practice, or by telling a member of the practice team. Many carers don't see themselves as carers, so it's worth asking when the opportunity comes up.
Record Status
The template includes the relevant codes for recording the patient's caring role. Recording the appropriate code will add the patient to the carer register, and they will then appear in the Register reports.
Register
Once a patient's caring role has been coded, they're automatically added to the carer register. An accurate register helps practices recognise carers, consider their needs when providing care, and invite them for a carer assessment.
Use the Ardens register reports to see every patient currently coded as a carer. Reports are available for all carers, carers aged 18-25 and carers under 18.
🩺 Assessment
Carers on the register should be offered a carer assessment to understand the impact of their caring role. The Ardens template supports recording the carer's circumstances, health and support needs in a structured way.
Carer Assessment
Use the template to record that a carer assessment has been offered or completed, along with the carer's circumstances and how the caring role is affecting them.
Health Check
Record health check information for the carer, so any impact on their own physical or mental health is captured alongside the assessment.
Support Needs
Record the information required for the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) to identify where the carer needs more support. In SystmOne, the Carer Strain Index can also be completed to score the impact of the caring role and monitor changes over time.
🤝 Support
Following the assessment, record what was agreed with the carer. This gives a clear record of their needs, the impact of their caring role and the help they've been offered.
Outcome
Record the outcome of the assessment, any relevant findings and any follow-up actions agreed with the carer.
Signposting
Share patient information leaflets, signpost to external support organisations such as Carers UK, and access other relevant Ardens templates and resources directly from the template.
❓FAQs
Is the Carer Assessment template for the carer or the person receiving care?
The template is designed for the patient who is a carer, rather than the person who is receiving care.
How do I add a patient to the carer register?
Use the template to record the patient's caring role. Recording the appropriate code will add the patient to the carer register, and they will then appear in the Register reports.
What support resources are available?
The template includes links to relevant support and information resources. Depending on your configuration, these may include patient information leaflets and shortcuts to external organisations and other Ardens resources.
🏫 Additional Support
Book training for your GP Practice, PCN or ICB
Contact our Support Team for support in real time