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CarersInformation for carers
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Who is this information for?This information is intended for carers (including young carers) and family members of people of any age who have any long term condition.
Do you look after someone?Do you provide help and support to a partner, relative, child, friend or neighbour who could not manage without you due to physical or mental illness, disability, frailty or addiction?
A carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to a person who could not manage without this help. This could be caring for someone who has a long term physical or mental health condition, a disability or someone who misuses substances.
About this leaflet
1 | Information for carers
Name What’s available Get in touch
Carers Direct A free nationwide service offering information, advice and support for carers. Resources are available in a variety of languages.
0808 8020202: www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect
South Glos Customer Service Desk
Access to South Glos Council’s Adult Social Care Service.
01454 868007 [email protected]
Carers Support Centre
Information and advice to carers of any age living in the Bristol and South Gloucestershire area, including:
• Carers’ emergency card• Supporting carers to
access the help they need
• Carers’ groups, activities and workshops
• Carers’ breaks and holidays
• Involving carers in the planning and development of services
Bristol and South Gloucestershire Carers’ Centre, The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2QQ
0117 965 2200: www.carerssupportcentre.org.uk
1 General support and information
2 | Information for carers
Name What’s available Get in touch
South Glos Parents and Carers
Information and support for parents and carers of young people from birth to 25 with a special educational need, disability or life limiting condition.
01454 501009: www.sglospc.org.uk
Carers Support Centre:Young Carers
Provides information, advice, services and activities focused on supporting young carers.
The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2QQ
0117 939 2562: www.southglos.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/carers/young-carers: www.bristol.gov.uk/young-carers
Families Also Matter (FAM) Service
Run by Developing Health and Independence (DHI), the FAM Service works with families to reduce the impact of someone else’s drug or alcohol use by supporting them with information, coping strategies and problem management. This is through group and 1:1 work.
0800 073 3011 (freephone) 01454 868 750 01454 868 755 (fax): wwww.dhi-online.org.uk [email protected]
Tell your GP you are a carerAs a carer, it is important that you look after your own health so that you can go on caring for as long as you want to. It is easy not to look after your own health when you are looking after someone else.
Your GP keeps a register of patients who are carers. Being on this register means you can be offered a health check and support at your GP surgery, as well as information about organisations and services that are available locally.
Tell people at work you are a carerWorking and looking after someone can be difficult. Telling work you are a carer is not always easy, but having an understanding and knowledgeable employer helps.
Talk to your colleagues, they may be supportive and they may even be in a similar caring situation themselves.
As a carer you have the legal right to request flexible working to help you balance caring and work responsibilities. You also have the right to take a ‘reasonable’ amount of time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependent. It is at an employer’s discretion whether the leave is paid or unpaid.
Carers AllowanceCarers allowance is £62.10 per week (as of July 2016). To qualify you must spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a disabled person and be under State Pension Age. If you are over this age you may be entitled to Carer’s Credit, which can give you additional benefits. If you care for someone for at least 20 hours per week
2 Health and wellbeing
3 | Information for carers Information for carers | 4
Pension If you care for someone for at least 20 hours per week, you could get Carer’s Credit. This helps build to build your entitlement to basic and additional State Pension. Carer’s Credit is a weekly National Insurance credit for carers that you will automatically get if you receive Carer’s Allowance.
Name What’s available Get in touch
Carers’ Emergency Card
The card identifies you as a carer. You carry it with you at all times so that if you are taken seriously ill or have an accident, the person who finds you can call the Emergency Communications Team, letting them know that the person you care for needs help.
If the person you care for pays council tax in South Gloucestershire, contact the Carers’ Support Centre to order your card. 0117 965 2200 [email protected]
5 | Information for carers
3 Carer Assessment
All carers need some help and support at times. Caring without support from others can present risks to your own health and wellbeing. As a carer you have a right to an assessment of your own needs. This can be done even if the person you care for doesn’t want an assessment or has declined any support previously.
All young carers under the age of 18 have a right to an assessment too. This is regardless of who they care for, what type of care they provide or how often they provide it.
Name What’s available Get in touch
Carers’ Support Centre
• Information about carers’ assessments and how to get one
• Referral for an appointment to have help completing the questionnaire
Bristol and South Gloucestershire Carers’ Centre, The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2QQ
South Glos CouncilEarly Help
Information on how to get a carers’ assessment for young carers and parent carers of a child.
: www.southglos.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/care-and-support-children-families
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Information for carers | 6
This information pack has been created for carers by Bristol Community Health.
If you require this leaflet in another format or language, please contact us on [email protected] or ring 0117 900 2198 and we will be pleased to assist you.
Last reviewed: 22/11/2016