We are committed to developing our work on carers’ issues and are keen to work with both local and national organisations, for example on:

• Independent evaluations of your service, including consultations with local carers
• Designing, administering and analysing questionnaires
• Running focus groups, carrying out interviews and organising consultation events
• Preparing materials for carers or professional staff
• Working with staff to develop a carer involvement strategy
• Producing clear feedback reports for staff and the wider public
• Training staff in approaches for effective involvement.

Recent examples of projects in which consultation with carers has been central include:

• three national studies on carers, looking at services for carers of people with mental health problems, barriers to access to healthcare for carers, and respite services for carers of people with dementia (NHS (SDO) R&D programme, with the Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York)
• a consultation exercise with members who are carers and a training session for advice line staff (Benenden Healthcare Society)
• a pilot carers’ self management course (The Expert Patients Programme)
• a web and postal survey of parent carers of children with disabilities (Contact-a-Family)
• a comprehensive needs assessment, involving consultation with mental health service users, carers and staff (Dudley Health Authority)
• consulting carers on the implementation of the ‘Better Care, Higher Standards’ Long-Term Care Charter (North Yorkshire Social Care)
• consulting with carers and service users as part of a review of day services for adults with learning disabilities (Learning Disability Partnership Board).