Worcestershire County Council is working NHS, industry, and an association to develop a transformative product that focuses on better supporting unpaid carers when the people they care for are discharged from hospital.

Partnering with Worcestershire Association of Carers, Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB, and Taking Care, the local authority’s work ensures that unpaid carers are able to access vital information and support at the point of hospital discharge.

The aim is to provide carers with relevant information, signposting, support, access to assessments, and assistive technology so they are able to access the right services if and when they need them.

The pioneering project is also making sure unpaid carers have access to assistive technology that can support people at home.

At its core, this assistive technology approach has facilitated unpaid carers to continue working alongside their caring role, as well as allowing them to take time away from caring to have a meaningful break, offering them peace of mind when they are not at home and a chance to maintain their own wellbeing.

The project was initially trialled at Evesham Hospital’s Stroke Ward and is now expanding to other sites. The project runs through to November 2025 and will continue to be evaluated for impact, according to the council, with a focus on sustainability and scale across the county.

Councillor Susan Eacock, a cabinet member with responsibility for adult social care at Worcestershire County Council, said: “Unpaid carers make an extraordinary contribution every day—often with little recognition and limited support.

“This project demonstrates how practical collaboration, and new approaches can make a real difference.

“By making sure carers feel supported at hospital discharge, we’re improving outcomes for families and communities alike. I’m proud to see Worcestershire leading the way.”

The council was awarded over £500,000 from the Department of Health and Social Care’s Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF) in April 2024 to lead innovative work designed to improve adult social care across the region, placing unpaid carers at the heart of that transformation.

Karen Edwards, CEO of Worcestershire Association of Carers, added: “The partnership working across the systems in Worcestershire and the commitment to improving the experience of hospital discharge for carers has really been key to the success of the ARF Programme, as well as the valuable insight and experience of unpaid carers which is essential to the innovation and transformation within social care.”

In addition, a countywide volunteering portal and a new network of ‘information first aiders’ are helping to create a stronger, more connected support system for unpaid carers across Worcestershire.

The Social Care institute for Excellence (SCIE) praised Worcestershire County Council’s project as a “strong example for transformation”. It highlighted the joined-up working approach across social care, health, local authority, voluntary sector, and how technology has made the project more meaningful and sustainable.

Kathryn Marsden OBE, Chief Executive of SCIE, commented: “Worcestershire’s work in this area stands out as a strong example of how local systems can take practical steps toward transformation, particularly when those with lived experience are meaningfully engaged.”

In recognition of the success, the Worcestershire Association of Carers was invited to share its experience at SCIE’s Co-production Week Conference and at a Parliamentary Reception at Westminster on 2 July 2025.