This toolkit brings together resources that Carers UK and NHS England have developed to support the delivery of virtual wards in England and ensure they consider and engage with unpaid carers. This toolkit is intended for use by local authorities involved in virtual wards, local carer organisations, and carers engaged with virtual wards. It will also support virtual wards teams to ensure they are providing the right support to unpaid carers.

It includes:
• A policy explainer about virtual wards – to help local organisations and carers understand what virtual wards are.
• A template leaflet for local organisations – to share with unpaid carers to help them understand virtual wards in your area. You can tailor this with specific local information, your own logos, contacts and more.
• An advocacy guide to empower carers – helping them feel more confident about caring for someone on a virtual ward, and access to information and advice, support, and that they have a choice in providing care.
• Our ‘professionals' checklist’- to support commissioners and other staff managing virtual wards as well as those delivering services to make sure that they are properly communicating with and supporting unpaid carers.
• Our Unpaid Carer Pathway - to support local virtual ward teams and unpaid carers to better understanding the processes involved in the delivery of virtual wards, improving communication and ease of delivery.

This resource has been developed by Carers UK as part of the Carers Partnership, alongside Carers Trust, as part of the Health and Wellbeing Alliance (HWA). The HWA is a partnership of VCSE sector organisations and health and care systems, seeking to further improve and develop the provision of health and care services in England.