Evaluating the National Carers Strategy: Future Directions

23 Mar 2021

On 23 March, ISS21 and Care Alliance Ireland hosted a workshop at which Dr. Maria Pierce presented the results of recent research with family carers, service providers and policy makers on their views of the National Carers Strategy (NCS). The NCS is the principal guiding Strategy relating to family carers in Ireland and has been in place since 2012. For a recording of Dr. Pierce's presentation, click here. The presentation slides are available at the following link: CarerEngage Presentation of Findings.

Following Dr Pierce's presentation, a panel of external expert stakeholders responded to the findings of the research. The panel, chaired by Zoe Hughes (Care Alliance Ireland), comprised:  

• Susan Scally, Principal Officer, Social Care Performance & Integration (Dept of Health)
• Emily Holzhausen, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Carers UK
• Clare Duffy, Policy & Public Affairs Manager, Family Carers Ireland

The event concluded with interactive discussions in small breakout groups amongst the forty participants who attended. The issues raised at the workshop will be incorporated into a final report, which will be launched on May 1st, 2021.

This workshop is the second in a series of events taking place over the next 12 months to address the CARERENGAGE project goals of centring and embedding family carers in the co-production of carer research, supports and policy. The project is funded by the Irish Research Council through the New Foundations Programme.

For more on this story contact:

Dr. Carol Kelleher (carol.kelleher@ucc.ie)