How the Local Authorities Support Carers
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and Middlesbrough Council work together to buy (commission) a range of local specialist carer support services to ensure that unpaid carers in South Tees receive the best and most expert support available. The local authorities and these commissioned organisations, known as providers, work together so carers are supported throughout their caring journey.
Why The Local Authorities Work with Provider Organisations
Because providers are partners of the local authorities, you may hear social care professionals signposting you to provider services. Likewise, providers may recommend contacting the local authority if they feel you would benefit from further assessment or additional support. Each provider offers something different, and the offer must be right for each individual carer, depending on their circumstances and where they are in their caring journey.
Our Commissioned Carer Support Services
What Each Provider Offers
Carers Together offers information, advice and practical support to help adult carers manage their caring role and access the services they need.
Teesside Mind provides emotional wellbeing support for adult carers, including specialist support for carers of people with dementia. Teesside Mind also works with GP surgeries to help them become more carer friendly.
The Junction Foundation provides support, advice and practical help for young carers and their families, helping them balance caring responsibilities alongside school, work and social life.
We Care You Care raises awareness of unpaid carers, provides information and guidance, helps identify hidden carers, and connects people to the right support.
Mobilise provides online peer support, digital resources and carer communities that can be accessed at any time.
Working Together to Support You
Providers offer carers choice, and the range of services is designed to complement one another. Whether a carer first contacts a provider or the local authority, they will be connected to the most appropriate support for their individual needs.
Listening to Carers and Shaping Future Support
A significant amount of work has taken place recently to listen to unpaid carers across South Tees. Your voice matters, it helps the local authorities and providers understand what is important to you and what you need now and in the future.
How Carers’ Feedback Shapes Services
Engaging with carers helps the local authority understand what support really matters to you, so we can design services that meet those needs. We use what carers tell us to shape the support we commission, and providers then deliver these services in ways that reflect carers’ experiences, challenges and priorities.
Our Carers Strategy and Action Plan
The South Tees All Age Carers Strategy and Action Plan is currently being developed and is due for implementation in April 2027, in line with the new carers contract. This is to ensure that everyone involved is working from the same shared priorities and delivering actions that improve support for carers.
The strategy sets out the priorities for identifying and supporting unpaid carers of all ages across South Tees, and the action plan explains how we aim to deliver these priorities in practice. They are both reviewed and approved by the Live Well South Tees Board. This is important because it makes sure everyone is working to the same plan and that the support for carers is checked by the Board to keep it fair, clear and effective.
Who Is Involved in Developing This Work
The work is being developed jointly by:
• Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council
• Middlesbrough Council
• The North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB)
• The South Tees Carers Forum, which includes representatives from local councils, health services, voluntary and community organisations, and carers themselves
How We Work Together Across South Tees
The local authorities and providers meet regularly to:
• share information
• share good practice
• develop joint initiatives
• ensure carers are receiving the right support
The South Tees Carers Forum meets quarterly to ensure everyone is working towards the intended actions within the strategy and action plan. Having a range of representatives ensures that no matter where carers go, their GP, workplace, school or college, or local businesses, they are recognised and respected as carers.
We want carers to receive coordinated support that is easy to understand, reduces the need to repeat their story, and ensures they access help that is right for them.
We also aim to hear from as many carers as possible, including through targeted outreach to seldom heard groups. Carers are equal partners in shaping this work.
