Become the RPB Representative for Unpaid Carers

Unpaid carers play an essential role in our communities, providing support, care and love to family members, friends and neighbours every single day. Yet too often, their voices are not heard in decisions about the health and social care services they depend on. The Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board (RPB) is committed to changing that — and we are now looking for a new Unpaid Carers Representative to join the Board to influence and plan long-term support and services across the region.

The RPB brings together leaders from health, local authorities, the third sector and wider partners to improve health and care services across the region. Having a strong carers’ voice at the table is vital to ensure that services reflect lived experience and truly support those who give so much to others.

We are committed to ensuring that unpaid carers in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan are recognised, supported and fully heard at every level of health, social care and wellbeing planning. Through our Unpaid Carers Charter—jointly adopted by Cardiff Council, Vale of Glamorgan Council and Cardiff & Vale University Health Board—we’ve established eight commitments that reflect what carers have told us matters most: awareness-raising so more people understand who carers are; timely access to information, advice and assessments under the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act; personalised support and short breaks; practical and emotional support through services such as the Vale Unpaid Carers Hub, Solace and Carers Gateway; plus joint planning of services co-produced with carers so support is designed around real lives.

The role of the Unpaid Carers Representative offers an opportunity to influence decision-making at the highest level in our region. You will bring the perspective of carers into conversations with senior leaders, challenge us to do better, and help shape strategy and services that directly impact unpaid carers and those they support.

We’d love to hear from you if you feel you can use your knowledge and links to other carers to ensure our work reflects the views and experiences of unpaid carers. The successful applicant will be remunerated for expenses and also via our Reward and Recognition Scheme for offering their services.

We know how hard it can be to find help when people need it the most and that the challenges unpaid carers face have become even harder over the last few year. This is an exciting opportunity to look to the future by becoming a member of the Regional Partnership Board and shared Chair of the Unpaid Carers Board, which oversees the development of services we fund to support unpaid carers.