European Carers Groups Meet In Clare

April 25, 2012 - PRLog -- The level and quality of care services that are being provided in Ireland and across Europe will be examined at the meeting which will be attended by organisations from France, Italy, Belgium, Slovakia and Spain.  Croatian Commissioner for Health and Social Care Services, Sonja Grozić Živolić also will be attending the event at the Council Chamber in Aras Contae an Chláir.

Caring for Carers Ireland along with partner organisations are participating in an EU-funded training initiative, entitled the Leonardo da Vinci (Transfer of Innovation) Key Skills for Family Carers KEYFORA project.   The two-year programme focuses on education and training for family carers, professional care workers and migrant care workers throughout their life.

According to Brigid Barron, Innovation & Programme Manager, Caring for Carers Ireland: “We attended the first meeting of the KEYFORA project in Bastia, France during December 2011. The second meeting of the European member group, taking place in Ennis this week, will identify and test the methods and tools to identify key skills and competencies. This will contribute to the personal and professional development of the Family carer, care workers and migrant care workers.”

Ms. Barron explained that the lack of key competencies is recognised as one of the main challenges to the overall success in the employment and training of carers throughout Europe. She added that existing resources and learning methods “are inadequate to cater for the needs of the learner”.

Ms. Barron continued: “Currently, the majority of care providers throughout Europe are migrants, while many caregivers or persons working in this area have currently no authority or power.  It is necessary to convince them to master key skills. Under the scheme, carers identify and acquire key skills and competencies in the provision of health and social care services to people in their own homes.

Caring for Carers Ireland is a national non-governmental organisation supporting Family Carers.  Its primary objective is to ensure that policy makers are aware of the key issues which impact on the lives of 161,000 Family Carers and influence their abilities to continue to provide care.

The KEYFORA Project meeting takes place in the Council Chamber, Aras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co Clare, from 8.30 to 6pm tomorrow and Friday (26-27 April).

For further information on the Leonardo da Vinci KEYFORA visit www.caringforcarers.org or contact 065-6866515.

-ENDS-

CONTACT:
-   Brigid Barron, Innovation & Programme Manager, Caring for Carers Ireland (086 6011971)
-   Mary McMahon, CEO, Caring for Carers Ireland (086 2469764)