The Dementia Carers’ Support Service (DCSS), which utilises hands-on experience of carers to befriend those currently undergoing the challenge of coping with dementia, has won first prize in the Dementia category of the Spotlight on Mental Health competition organised by Health Enterprise East (HEE), the regional NHS partner for innovation.

It has been devised by a team from the Older Peoples’ Mental Health Service (OPMH) at the Trust, including Fe Franklin and Sally Kitchen, Project Co-ordinators, Kaylie Butler, Team Support Worker and Terry Dellar, Team Administrator. The idea was originally proposed by Service Manager John Hawkins and Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Susan Welsh.

HEE presented staff with an engraved trophy and a cheque for £2000 towards the next stage in the development of their innovation.

DCSS is focused on utilising the extensive hands-on experience of people who have cared for someone with dementia. The volunteers are linked to current dementia carers as a befriender or buddy. Sharing their time, the volunteers offer emotional, practical and social support, as well as signposting carers to other services.

This means that the current carers have consistent support throughout the journey of their caring role from someone who understands the challenges that living with dementia presents. This benefits the person with dementia, their carer and the volunteer who wishes to share time, knowledge and experience with others.

Fe Frankin, one of the DCSS Project Co-ordinators said: “Our Trust promotes a model of recovery in mental health and one of the principles we have identified is that family carers and other supporters are crucial to recovery. For many shouldering the weight of caring, peer support is crucial to avoid feeling isolated and anxious.

“This scheme complements other support and help available and harnesses the hands-on experience gained by ex-carers who really do understand the challenges that living with dementia presents.

“Out of a total of 61 people who have been referred to the service, over one third have been successfully matched with a befriender. A further third are currently in the process of being assessed and matched.”

Chris Armstrong, Marketing Co-ordinator at HEE said: “Dementia is a growing challenge in an ageing population and projects like DCSS are vital in helping carers to cope with everyday situations.

“The practice of utilising the wealth of first-hand experience from ex-carers to provide support met all the criteria in our Spotlight competition, launched in response to the National Dementia Strategy for England which aims to transform services for people with dementia and their carers.”