1. Introducing
Caring with Confidence
Making a positive difference to the lives of carers
2008

2. Supporting statements Foreword
“Carers build up their “Partners UK is a national “The Princess Royal Trust “We have an army of carers in this country who provide
skills and knowledge network of families who for Carers and its network an untold amount of support and care for a loved one,
through difficult years and have a disabled child or of carers’ centres really family member, neighbour or friend. This can often
often say they wish they disabled adult and their values the recognition mean providing care 24 hours a day, seven days a
could pass on what they allies, working together to and investment in carers week, taking on a role that enables the person they
know so others don't build capacity to work in that has been provided by care for to stay at home and live with the dignity,
have such a hard time. partnership at local, the Caring with independence and security they deserve and which
This is what Caring with regional and national Confidence initiative. the rest of us often take for granted.
Confidence hopes to levels. Caring with Involving carers’
Equally, people taking on this role deserve the support
achieve by developing Confidence is a fantastic organisations who deliver
of Government and local services themselves to ensure
courses based on what way to help provide front line support to
they are able to maintain their own quality of life.
carers themselves have learning opportunities to carers at the very outset
learned. As a carer led carers and particularly has ensured that the Caring with Confidence is a collaborative approach
organisation this is focus on the impact at a training covers the areas between organisations with experience of delivering
exactly what Carers UK local level where carers of support carers actually courses and supporting carers.
has been campaigning to really want it. We’re need. Receiving some
see happen. Carers UK is delighted we are able to training will make all the Caring with Confidence will provide essential support
pleased to be a partner in be part of this.” difference in enabling to carers to empower, inform and develop their skills.
this new and much carers to sustain and The Caring with Confidence Board is thrilled to be
Julia Erskine
needed initiative.” balance their caring involved and pleased to be sharing the developments
Director
responsibilities, whilst of this programme with you during this exciting time.”
Imelda Redmond Merseyside Partners UK
Chief Executive achieving their own
Carers UK career and life
“The Expert Patients aspirations.”
Programme helps people
“Working with and for Jane Burt
take back control of their
carers, usually in their Director of Operations
lives by learning new
own homes, we have The Princess Royal Trust
skills to manage their Simon Knighton
seen at first hand the for Carers
huge range of knowledge long-term health EPP CIC Chief Executive &
and expertise that they condition(s) on a daily Caring with Confidence Project Board Founding Chair
develop. The opportunity basis. Carers shouldn’t be
to be part of Caring with forgotten and this kind of
Confidence and to support, to enable carers
contribute to the to manage their own
development of a health and wellbeing and
programme of courses that of the person they
that will help more carers care for, is exactly what
recognise their own should be available. We’re
expertise and their own proud to be involved with
needs was something we this project.”
at Crossroads said a Jim Phillips
resounding ‘yes’ to.” Development &
Anne Roberts Operations Director
Chief Executive Expert Patients
Crossroads Association Programme CIC

3. Introduction
Caring with Confidence, The name Caring with
formerly known as Confidence was chosen
expert carers programme following research
(ecp), began in January commissioned into
2008. It is part of the carers’ views about their
Government’s New situation, the concept of
Deal for Carers and a new carers programme,
the renewed National and the types of words
Carers Strategy. that resonate with them.
“We all need Throughout the
development of the
The purpose of this
report is to give you an
training and help.” programme, consultation understanding of how the
amongst carers has project has developed
been undertaken to since the start of the
inform decisions and contract on 1 January
the direction of 2008 and the strategic
the programme. direction of Caring with
Confidence over the
coming three years.

4. What are our aims? Target groups
“It gave me confidence Caring with Confidence
runs group sessions
develop their knowledge
and skills - by taking
Caring with Confidence
is aimed at adult carers,
And, carers of: The target is that,
across the country,
knowing that I had which began to be part in one or more free, with particular emphasis G disabled children at least one third of
delivered in August local sessions, by using on target groups or adults with carers who take part in
the specific information 2008. Self-study packs the self-study packs specified by the complex needs Caring with Confidence
I needed regarding the and online resources will or by accessing the Department of Health. G people of black will be from the first
be made available from online resources. From October 2008, the group and one third
wellbeing of the person, January 2009. target groups are:
and minority
ethnic heritage from the second group.
Caring with Confidence
and how to react and Our aim is to help carers will enhance and G
The remaining third
Carers who are: people living with will be any adult carer.
deal with the anger make a positive supplement the training mental ill-health To reach these targets,
difference to their life already available and G in receipt of Carers
which would sometimes and that of the person help to provide learning Allowance (or care G people with dementia
we will work with local
community and
be displayed.” they care for. Carers will opportunities for carers for 35 hours per G people with long- condition-specific
be able to mix and where there is currently week or more)1
term conditions groups. We will also
match how they further little available.
G of black and minority develop tailored
G people nearing the
ethnic heritage programmes to
end of life
meet the needs of
G lesbian, gay, G people who are these carers.
bisexual or
lesbian, gay, bisexual
transgender.
or transgender.
1.
Until 30th August 2009, this target shall be
those caring for 20+ hours per week

5. Understanding carers’ needs
To gain a thorough The key findings of the G an interest in caring
understanding of carers’ research relating to issues or kinship
perspectives on training the delivery of the with other carers
in general, their views programme were: cannot be assumed.
on existing provision In fact 62 per cent of
G those caring
and to measure reaction people in a caring
between 35-49 hours
to the idea of a new role do not actually
per week have
carers’ programme, we consider themselves
similar issues to
commissioned a a carer. There is also
those caring 50+
research study in a conflict for many
hours. Furthermore,
early 2008. carers between what
the emotional cost of
The research comprised: caring is clearly not they consider as
related to hours ‘my needs’ and
G an online survey of ‘their needs’
spent caring per
1,084 carers
week. Indeed for G 25 per cent of carers
representative of all
many, the more they acknowledge there
English regions
have to juggle is support available
G six discussion multiple roles but feel they don’t
groups comprising (caring, work, have time to access
people who care family), the greater it. A further 34 per
for 50+ hours per their stress cent feel the support
week, people who G that is currently
those caring for
care for 20+ hours available does not
21-49 hours per
per week and meet their needs
week showed the
occasional carers.
most interest in the G training sessions
concept of Caring (both one-off and
with Confidence and regular) that provide
the least experience interaction with
of Caring with experts and are
Confidence-type attended with others
provision in the same situation
are most positively
received by carers.
“I don’t need comforting;
I need (me and my situation) to be understood.”

6. Knowledge of existing training
As stated previously, The first was sent to This could range From the responses sessions delivered by bisexual or
Caring with Confidence organisations working from guidance on received, the North East carers’ support transgender have
is designed to enhance with and for carers, managing finances to and East Midlands workers or least provision aimed
and supplement existing condition-specific workshops on building appear to have the external trainers specifically at them
provision rather than organisations, Primary self-confidence. lowest level of current
Care Trusts and Local provision, as well as a G the most common G most training is not
replace it. Therefore, one Responses to the
of our first pieces of Authorities who may higher than average topics covered are: free of charge to
questionnaires have carers’ own health carers, although
work was to undertake a provide training aimed density of carers. We
helped us to form a and wellbeing; the costs are
detailed mapping at carers. are therefore trialling
picture of the current
exercise of training Caring with Confidence empowerment; and generally minimal.
The second went to provision across
currently available to in these areas prior to psychological
organisations that might England and determine The mapping process
carers and of the the main rollout. aspects of caring
provide training on the most appropriate is on-going and will
existing providers. We subjects relevant to way of rolling out G carers who are enable us to gauge the
Other findings from the
did this by developing carers and which might the programme. mapping include: lesbian, gay, bisexual impact of Caring with
and distributing be covered by Caring or transgender or Confidence on other
two questionnaires. with Confidence. G most training is who care for people provision for carers
face-to-face group who are lesbian, gay, across the country.

7. Development of session modules
were able to participate Caring Day-to-Day
in one module and then Looks at the essentials
provide feedback on of looking after
its content, suitability someone day-to-day,
and delivery. from medication to
emergencies at home.
The final modules are:
Caring and Resources
Finding Your Way
How carers can
Helps carers to look at
maximise their income
what matters to them
A Core Development and access other
and which other
Group, whose members resources which save
sessions they might
have a wealth of them money as a carer.
want to come along to.
experience of being
Caring and Life
carers, working with Caring and Coping
Invites carers to take
carers and writing and Gives carers time and
time out and think about
delivering training in a space to look at
how to juggle competing
range of environments, emotions involved in
demands and how the
worked to develop the caring and strategies to
caring role fits with other
first seven generic cope more effectively
aspects of their life.
course modules. with stress.
Caring and
The material was trialled Caring and Me
Communicating
at a road-test event in How to be fit for life
Uses real-life caring
June 2008 where the and caring. Discussion
situations to help carers
modules were delivered and planning around
get the best from
to carers by trained carers’ own health
communicating with
facilitators. The carers and wellbeing.
other people.
Assuring quality
Development of ‘Benchmarking’ range of other
Quality Standards Once the Quality programmes
Caring with Confidence Standards have been complementary to
Quality Standards are developed, we will offer Caring with Confidence
being developed for a ‘benchmarking’ service continues to be provided
course materials, for those who deliver and carers can be directed
facilitators and provider ‘Caring with Confidence to whatever is most
agencies to ensure that type’ training. This will suitable to their needs.
there is a consistently give confidence to both
high standard of commissioners and
“I realised how many more people provision across carers in these courses.
are in the same position.” the country. It will ensure that a

8. What’s to come
Tailored modules supported throughout by the Caring
Over the next few months, the generic with Confidence National Team.
modules will be adapted and/or
In order to widen the coverage of
supplemented to tailor them to
Caring with Confidence across the
meet the needs of carers from our
country, we will also introduce a
target groups.
‘Caring with Confidence Licence’.
Rollout Organisations which meet our Quality
An outline of how the sessions will be Standard for provider organisations
rolled out across the country is set will be able to apply for a licence to
out below. For further information, deliver Caring with Confidence
please see our website: programmes. The licence will enable
www.caringwithconfidence.net the organisations to receive Caring
with Confidence materials and
We know from the research we
to have an agreed number of
commissioned that carers want
facilitators trained.
sessions to be local and that, in order
to make a real impact, there has to be Distance learning
repeated delivery so that it becomes Attending face-to-face group sessions
embedded in a community. is not always a feasible option for
carers. To ensure all carers have
We plan to spread the available
access to learning, regardless of
funding between about 20-25
where they live in England and
organisations across England, in
whether or not there are sessions
areas that have higher than average
running in their local area, e-learning
numbers of carers from the target
and self learning packs will be
groups and lower than average
available from January 2009.
current provision.
Carers will be able to mix and match
We will seek partner organisations
how they further develop their
that can demonstrate their area meets
knowledge and skills - by taking part
these criteria and that they are in a
in one or more free, local sessions, by
position (either working alone or in
using the self-study packs or by
partnership with other local
accessing the online resources.
organisations or community groups)
to be able to recruit carers from the
target groups to the sessions.
The funding will be for two to three
years and will cover all costs
including those incurred by carers
attending the group sessions. We will
train and support facilitators from our
“I think it was four years into the illness that partner organisations. The partners
I really understood it and realised that we will be responsible for all the local
arrangements, including recruitment,
weren’t going to return to normal.” choice of venues etc. They will be

9. Caring with Confidence
Carrwood Park, Selby Road, Leeds, LS15 4LG
0113 385 4491
cwc.info@caringwithconfidence.net
www.caringwithconfidence.net
© Caring with Confidence