This guide is designed to support the commissioning of effective carer support services for people with dementia. It aims to support commissioners to ensure that carer support services are meeting the needs of people with dementia, whether through direct provision of specialist dementia carer support services and workers, or through generic carer support provision.

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Carer support services are generally commissioned by local authorities and the NHS to provide a range of support options for carers. Recognising the huge contribution that carers make to the lives of those they care for, as well as the savings that accrue while carers are providing care, localities will want to continue to commission carer support services, and should look to enhance and further invest in what is available.

Carer support services are often commissioned from community organisations. Supporting carers through the commissioning of carer support services is an important way for the NHS and local authority social services to ensure that unpaid carers have the best opportunities to continue their caring role where they can, and where they want to.

This guide starts with an overview of the policy context and incentives or levers which can be utilised to achieve the policy outcomes. This is followed by a section on ‘Commissioners’ Top Tips’, identified by commissioners, outlining the opportunities to influence provision. The Resources section includes emerging practice in dementia and generic carer support, toolkits and other resources to support commissioning activity. The two appendices offer a brief discussion of some of the debates in commissioning carer support services: Appendix 1 explores the issues relating to whether to commission specialist or generic support (or both); Appendix 2 discusses the importance of identification and access in reaching carers of people with dementia.

The guide has been informed by the views and experiences of commissioners in the South West, carers and organisations working for carers’ needs and rights.