Feedback wanted to improve services for unpaid carers

A fourth-year business and management student at Orkney College UHU is appealing to unpaid carers in the county to provide feedback on the service they receive.

Molly Malone is working in partnership with the Orkney Partnership board’s positive ageing delivery group to undertake her final year dissertation, entitled Aiding the business strategy for the Positive Ageing Group to enable Orkney’s older people to remain active and independent.

It is hoped that through the feedback gathered, the project will allow both statutory and voluntary organisations to build on, and improve, the services they currently provide to unpaid carers across Orkney.

A questionnaire has been sent out to over 200 unpaid carers, which aims to identify where they may not be fully supported, or where additional support is required.

Gail Anderson, chairwoman of the Positive Ageing Delivery Group said: “The Orkney Partnership, through their Positive Ageing Delivery Group, recognise and appreciate the essential role of unpaid carers and is keen to find out what might need to be improved, or introduced, to ensure they receive all the support they need in their caring role.”

Olivia Tait, manager of the Orkney Carers Centres, added: “This is a great opportunity for unpaid carers, who are the country’s largest workforce, to let us know what they need to support them in their caring role and if you have received a questionnaire and have not yet completed it, we urge you to do so as soon as possible.”

Completed questionnaires should be returned to Olivia Tait, at the Orkney Carers Centre, by Friday, April 8.

Anyone who hasn’t received a questionnaire should contact the centre on 870500.