Improving Support for Unpaid Carers
Project Background
On this project our IMPACT Facilitator, Orla, is based within the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Carer Support Service in Ballynahinch Community Services, and this project is co-hosted by Carers NI.
The Carers Support Service in the South Eastern HSC Trust is a central point of contact for carers of all ages. Information and advice can be provided, and the service can signpost carers to relevant groups, organisations and support networks within and outside of the Trust. Carers NI is part of Carers UK and is the leading national charity for unpaid carers. Carers NI supports, advocates for, champions and connects unpaid carers from across Northern Ireland, so no one has to care alone.
Meet Our Facilitator: Orla Fitzsimons
Hello! My name is Orla and I’m the IMPACT Facilitator for the Improving Support for Unpaid Carers project in the SEHSCT with Carers NI. I am a Community Children’s Nurse Specialist Practitioner, and a parent carer of my son who has additional needs and disabilities.
Unpaid carers look after their child, a relative, family member, neighbour or friend who has a health condition, illness or disability and there are over 220,000 unpaid carers in Northern Ireland according to the NI Census in 2021.
This project is working directly with all the different groups of unpaid carers living in the SEHSCT area, and is looking at how lots of different organisations, including the Trust, can better work with unpaid carers themselves, to improve information and support, which will help unpaid carers live their best lives, whilst caring for their loved one who needs their support.
The project started in November 2024 and is running until November 2025.
As a busy working mum of three and an unpaid carer myself, I am excited to be involved with IMPACT and the two host organisations, on this project. I have been working with IMPACT since 2022 in a number of ways, and was delighted to get the chance to work with other unpaid carers, and the fabulous organisations and voluntary groups that support them, in my local community.
The IMPACT Centre and the way it works is innovative and different in terms of how the focus is on people who draw on care and support and their unpaid carers voice, views and experiences, and using this expertise to improve how services are designed and delivered on the ground.
In my eighteen years as a health professional in NI communities, I know how much staff and service providers want to work in this way, but face huge challenges in actually doing this well. IMPACT’s way of working is important because it is uniquely focused ‘at ground level’ with the people using and delivering services.
I feel privileged to be part of this new way of working to improve services, and am hopeful that the impacts of this work will make real and urgent change possible.
Host Agency: South Eastern HSC Trust
Why did SEHSCT want to host this IMPACT project?
“The SEHSCT has an ongoing commitment to unpaid carers, and is keen to be involved in any project that assists the development and improvement of supports for unpaid carers living in the SEHSCT geographical area”.
What are your hopes for the outcomes of this project?
“Any data and evidence on unpaid carers experiences and views, that will influence change, is welcomed by the Trust. The Trust services will also benefit from participating in developing a ‘dashboard’ that aims to provide an up to date profile of unpaid caring within the Trust area. This project will assist in developing practice in supporting unpaid carers, and evidence and outcomes from the project, can be incorporated into future planning.”
What are your experiences so far of working with IMPACT?
“IMPACT offer qualified and skilled staff and project workers who are committed to change. There are regular updates on the project work and aims and outcomes shared. It is beneficial that the project worker is also an unpaid carer, so has lived experience and knowledge of the issues unpaid carers face.”
