Evaluation of Carers Matter for Norfolk County Council

Between 2020 and 2023 IPC worked with Norfolk County Council to evaluate their model of support for unpaid carers implemented using a social impact bond mechanism. The Council expected that the support would sustain caring relationships over time and prevent carer breakdown. We used a mixed methods approach to engage with a wide range of stakeholders (importantly including carers themselves) to explore impact and outcomes.

We found many positive aspects of the support that were highly valued by carers and enhanced their wellbeing, and we make recommendations for further improvements. We did not find evidence that the service offered substantial savings by preventing carer breakdown, and we challenge the assumptions that underpinned these expectations.

We recognise the tensions in balancing breadth and depth in supporting carers, and the importance of a universal offer of information and advice, while also identifying carers in greatest need requiring targeted and regular support and intervention, particularly when caring demands are long-term and intensifying. The need for contingency support (including regular respite) for carers with higher needs underlines the importance of coordinating carer support with support for the cared for person.

Download Evaluation of Carers Matter for Norfolk County Council

More Publications

Publication Signup

"*" indicates required fields

To receive our newsletter & gain access to our publications, please add your details below and select areas of interest. If you've done this before, you will see this prompt if you've deleted or don't collect browser cookies, or it's been more than a year since you've visited this page.

We will always store your personal details securely. We will never sell your contact details to another organisation and never share your data with other organisations for marketing purposes. You can opt-out at any time.

Subject Areas of Interest
Marketing Permissions
Please select all the ways you would like to hear from Institute of Public Care:

By submitting this form, you agree to be contacted in relation to News, Resources, and Updates. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please view our Privacy Policy.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Publication Signup

"*" indicates required fields

To receive our newsletter & gain access to our publications, please add your details below and select areas of interest. If you've done this before, you will see this prompt if you've deleted or don't collect browser cookies, or it's been more than a year since you've visited this page.

We will always store your personal details securely. We will never sell your contact details to another organisation and never share your data with other organisations for marketing purposes. You can opt-out at any time.

Subject Areas of Interest
Marketing Permissions
Please select all the ways you would like to hear from Institute of Public Care:

By submitting this form, you agree to be contacted in relation to News, Resources, and Updates. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please view our Privacy Policy.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.