Have your say on Southwark Council’s new Carer Centre

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Southwark Council would like your views to help design a new Carer Centre for unpaid carers living in Southwark, aged 18+.

Who are unpaid carers?

Unpaid carers are people who provide care for a friend, family member, or neighbour who has an illness, disability, mental health concern, or who is older and needs extra support. Unpaid carers do not receive any payment from the council or a private company for this caring role.

What is the Carer Centre?

The new Carer Centre will be located in Southwark and will offer a range of services for unpaid carers living in the borough. The Carer Centre will aim to improve the wellbeing of unpaid carers, empower them in their caring role, and support them to access health and care services and other voluntary and community services that can offer support.

The Carer Centre will be delivered by an organisation that will work closely with Southwark Council to support unpaid carers.

When will the new Carer Centre open?

Southwark Council intends to open the new Carer Centre in June 2026.

Between now and June 2026, the council will be working closely with carers and health and care professionals to design the new service and ensure there is an organisation ready to deliver the new service.

How can I get involved?

There are several ways you can share your views and ideas with Southwark Council. You can participate in as many ways as you like.

1. Information sessions

Between October and December 2024, information sessions were held to explain the planning process for the new Carer Centre and to ask for feedback.

2. Survey

Between November and December 2024, a survey was live, with paper copies available in locations the borough. The survey asked participants what services Southwark residents would like the Carer Centre to deliver, and asked for participants to share any other views or ideas about the new Carer Centre. This survey is now closed. Thank you to everybody who took the time to complete the survey.

3. Focus groups

Focus groups were held in February 2025. Six focus groups were held in total: three were held face-to-face and three were held online. For each focus group, 5-8 residents, including unpaid carers and those who work with unpaid carers, discussed the new future Carer Centre in more detail, whilst council representatives listened and took notes.

Thank you to everyone who attended a focus group.

4. Lived experience representatives on a working group

A small number of unpaid carers are now invited to be part of a working group, alongside Adult Social Care practitioners and health care professionals who work closely with carers.

This working group will be responsible for:

  • Reviewing feedback shared via the survey and focus groups
  • Using the feedback to develop a service model for the new Carer Centre
  • Evaluating any tender bids received and sitting on interview panels for shortlisted organisations
  • Deciding together which organisation to award the contract to.

Please note the following:

Carers who participate in the working group will be asked to commit approximately 2-6 hours per month over a six-month period, from April 2025 to October 2025.

Carers who participate will be compensated for any time they dedicate to the project, including time attending meetings, time reviewing documents, and travel time.

Prior to carers making any commitment, we will explain how this compensation may impact any benefits the carer receives so that they can make an informed decision about participation and compensation.

If you are interested in being part of this working group, please email commissioning.engagement@southwark.gov.uk by Sunday 13 April.

If a high number of carers express interest, you may be required to complete an Expression of Interest form and only a small number of carers will be selected.

Southwark Council would like your views to help design a new Carer Centre for unpaid carers living in Southwark, aged 18+.

Who are unpaid carers?

Unpaid carers are people who provide care for a friend, family member, or neighbour who has an illness, disability, mental health concern, or who is older and needs extra support. Unpaid carers do not receive any payment from the council or a private company for this caring role.

What is the Carer Centre?

The new Carer Centre will be located in Southwark and will offer a range of services for unpaid carers living in the borough. The Carer Centre will aim to improve the wellbeing of unpaid carers, empower them in their caring role, and support them to access health and care services and other voluntary and community services that can offer support.

The Carer Centre will be delivered by an organisation that will work closely with Southwark Council to support unpaid carers.

When will the new Carer Centre open?

Southwark Council intends to open the new Carer Centre in June 2026.

Between now and June 2026, the council will be working closely with carers and health and care professionals to design the new service and ensure there is an organisation ready to deliver the new service.

How can I get involved?

There are several ways you can share your views and ideas with Southwark Council. You can participate in as many ways as you like.

1. Information sessions

Between October and December 2024, information sessions were held to explain the planning process for the new Carer Centre and to ask for feedback.

2. Survey

Between November and December 2024, a survey was live, with paper copies available in locations the borough. The survey asked participants what services Southwark residents would like the Carer Centre to deliver, and asked for participants to share any other views or ideas about the new Carer Centre. This survey is now closed. Thank you to everybody who took the time to complete the survey.

3. Focus groups

Focus groups were held in February 2025. Six focus groups were held in total: three were held face-to-face and three were held online. For each focus group, 5-8 residents, including unpaid carers and those who work with unpaid carers, discussed the new future Carer Centre in more detail, whilst council representatives listened and took notes.

Thank you to everyone who attended a focus group.

4. Lived experience representatives on a working group

A small number of unpaid carers are now invited to be part of a working group, alongside Adult Social Care practitioners and health care professionals who work closely with carers.

This working group will be responsible for:

  • Reviewing feedback shared via the survey and focus groups
  • Using the feedback to develop a service model for the new Carer Centre
  • Evaluating any tender bids received and sitting on interview panels for shortlisted organisations
  • Deciding together which organisation to award the contract to.

Please note the following:

Carers who participate in the working group will be asked to commit approximately 2-6 hours per month over a six-month period, from April 2025 to October 2025.

Carers who participate will be compensated for any time they dedicate to the project, including time attending meetings, time reviewing documents, and travel time.

Prior to carers making any commitment, we will explain how this compensation may impact any benefits the carer receives so that they can make an informed decision about participation and compensation.

If you are interested in being part of this working group, please email commissioning.engagement@southwark.gov.uk by Sunday 13 April.

If a high number of carers express interest, you may be required to complete an Expression of Interest form and only a small number of carers will be selected.

Page last updated: 01 Apr 2025, 12:00 PM