To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how his Department ensures that services and support identified in carers assessments for older carers are implemented.

All HSC Trusts use the Northern Ireland Single Assessment Tool (NISAT) Carers Support and Needs Assessment to assess the ability of carers to carry on caring. The aim of the assessment is to identify whether the impact of caring on the carer is putting their caring role at risk in the future, and to determine what supports could be put in place to support and sustain the carer in their caring role.

Following the assessment, support services can be offered in line with existing Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust priorities. However, it is important to recognise that a carers’ assessment is also about a therapeutic engagement and a recognition of the carer’s circumstances and the importance of their role – not only about facilitating the provision of practical supports

The NISAT Carers’ Assessment component collects a record of unmet need experienced by carers. Trusts are required to log this information and report to the HSC Board in order to inform the commissioning and future planning of services. It is important that the needs of individual carers are properly understood and that HSC Board and Trusts use this information for service planning to support as many carers as possible.