WELCOME TO COVENTRY CARERS CENTRE. Our fully accessible Centre is situated at 3 City Arcade

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1 WELCOME TO COVENTRY CARERS CENTRE Our fully accessible Centre is situated at 3 City Arcade The Centre is open to the public from 9.30am until 4.00pm, Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) CARERS HELPLINE am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday (Answerphone operates outside these times) DROP-IN A Carer Support Worker is available at the Centre Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9.30am 1.00pm, without an appointment Contact us by Phone on Skype Coventry Carers Fax on contactus@coventrycarers.org.uk Website Follow us on Facebook at Follow our blog at

2 There are over 40,000 family carers in Coventry, and around 5,000 young carers (aged 5 to 18 years). Are you one of them? Do you look after someone with a physical or sensory disability? Do you look after an elderly or frail parent, family member, friend or neighbour? Do you look after a child with special needs? Do you look after someone with a serious illness? Do you look after someone who is dependent on drugs or alcohol? Do you support someone living with a mental health need? Do you look after someone with Learning Disabilities? If you have answered yes to any of the above, then you are a family carer! A carer is someone who, without payment, provides help and support to a relative, friend or neighbour who could not manage alone, because of frailty, illness, disability or addiction. Many carers do not recognise themselves as a carer, thinking that they are just someone trying to cope as best they can, whilst helping to look after their husband, wife, child, brother, sister, parent, friend or neighbour.

3 How can Coventry Carers Centre help you? If you are a family carer who lives or works in Coventry, we can help you through Offering you the opportunity to talk to an experienced Carer Support Worker about your needs as a carer, to help you to identify the services, information and support you need Providing information on a wide range of subjects, relevant to carers and the people you care for Offering emotional support someone to talk to who understands your situation Helping with claims for Carers Allowance, and general advice on your entitlement to benefits Offering support in a variety of languages - Hindi, Panjabi, Urdu, Gujarati, Polish, Chinese and other languages, by appointment Carer Support Groups, where you can meet other people in similar caring situations Social Group Outings, Carers Luncheon Clubs and a Walking Group, to allow you to socialise and take a break from your caring role Helping you to access counselling and stress relieving therapies, either free or at discounted rates Signposting and referring you to other organisations for specialist support or advice Offering free Internet access Offering access to our Carers Library, where you can loan books and DVDs free of charge Offering our literature in a range of different languages and formats Large Print, Braille, on tape on request

4 As well as our Drop-in and Telephone Helpline, which are available to all carers, we offer specific support to Asian Carers Our Asian Carer Support Workers speak a variety of Asian languages and can offer support in the Centre, at community venues or through a home visit. Young Carers Our Young Carer Support Workers work with carers aged between 5 and 18 years, offering one-to-one emotional support, support in school (both one-to-one and raising awareness of Young Carers issues), free activities and trips, a regular newsletter and online support via , SMS and Facebook. Young Carers have designed their own space, The Den, located at Methodist Central Hall, equipped with a Wii, X Box, pool table, games, craft equipment, large screen TVs, laptop computers and a kitchen where the over 8 s can learn to cook healthy, economical meals, as part of the Grow It Eat It Project. Project Wednesday, a Young Carers Youth Club offering Young Carers the opportunity to have a break in a safe and relaxed setting, and Thursplay, a session for the under 8 s, are held at the Den on a monthly basis. Some of these sessions are themed, with activities based around a central activity, and issue based topics are covered to help Young Carers make informed choices by encouraging discussions in a supportive environment such as bullying, benefits and online safety. Mental Health Carers We recognise that caring for someone who is mentally unwell can be very stressful and isolating. Our Mental Health Carer Support Worker can offer specific support and information to Mental Health carers, and can offer one-to-one support at the Centre or at the Caludon Centre. Carers of someone with Learning Disabilities The emotional and behavioural difficulties, which are often associated with Learning Disabilities, can make life even more trying and stressful for carers. Through their specialist knowledge and advice, our Learning Disabilities Carer Support Worker and our

5 Black and Minority Ethnic Learning Disabilities Carer Support Worker can help carers to make the most of the support available to them, thus making life more manageable. Moving Forward Planning for the Future Project We have a Carer Support Worker who can provide information and guidance on planning for the future. Planning for the future is essential for carers. It can give you and the person you support peace of mind, choice and control over where they live and the support they receive when you are no longer able to care. Accessing information about Moving Forward planning for the future is currently available for people who are looking after someone who has learning disabilities or has mental ill health. There is a resource pack and DVD available which provides carers with information and tools to plan for future. Carers of people due to be discharged from hospital When patients leave hospital, it can be a very difficult time for the people who are caring for them, particularly if they are less able than before they were admitted. It is important that carers ensure that they have all the services and support they need, before the person they care for is discharged. Our Hospital Discharge Worker can support carers through this difficult time, with specific advice and information, and can meet with carers at the Centre, or at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (Walsgrave Hospital). Carers of adults who have a Physical and/or Sensory Impairment Many carers in Coventry care for someone aged between 18 and 65 years, and who has a physical or sensory impairment. The role of our specialist Carer Support Worker is to identify carers of people with physical and/or sensory impairments, support new and existing carers by providing information and advice and to help carers to access help and support from other organisations and agencies. African and Caribbean Carers Our French speaking African and Caribbean Carer Support Worker works with other African and Caribbean organisations and groups in Coventry, in order to keep carers up to date with what is available in the community to support them.

6 Carer support in GP Surgeries The Centre s GP Outreach Development Worker is working with GP surgeries in Coventry to identify and support carers. A number of surgeries in the city host regular Carer Clinic sessions, so that carers can make an appointment to meet with our worker in their local surgery. The Allotment Project We have 2 allotment sites, where you can learn new skills, work alongside other carers, have access to fresh produce, learn how to make inexpensive nutritional meals and have a place to chill out If you are interested in any of the specific support detailed above, please contact us by telephone, , fax, Skype or through our website, contact details are on the first page of this booklet. What else do we offer? Passport to Leisure & Learning (PTLL) All carers registered with the Centre are eligible for the PTLL, regardless of income. There is a small charge for the PTLL for adults but it is issued free to Young Carers, and carers must supply a passport sized photo. The PTLL card entitles carers to discounts at a number of leisure and learning activities in the city. For more information about where you can use the PTLL, see the website Training for carers We hold training courses at the Centre for carers. We are also sometimes able to access free places for carers on courses run by other organisations. Support Groups Parent Carer Group - This group is for parents/carers of children with disabilities, including ADHD and ASD, and meets monthly.

7 General Carer Support Group - Open to all carers, this group meets monthly, at the Centre. There are planned activities, as well as more informal coffee morning sessions. Milan Asian Carers Support Group - held fortnightly, at St Peter s Community Centre, and offers information and training on issues which concern members of the group, as well as culturally sensitive respite breaks and celebrations of major religious festivals. Care and Share Support Group - an informal peer support group for those who are caring for someone who is mentally unwell, held at the Centre on a monthly basis. African and Caribbean Carer Support Group - meets monthly, and group members are encouraged to plan future meetings. Former Carers Group - Carers who are no longer caring may wish to join our Former Carers Support Group, which meets monthly at Methodist Central Hall. If you are interested in any of the above, please contact us by telephone, , fax, Skype or through our website, contact details are on the first page of this booklet. Online Support There is a wealth of online support for carers. The following sites are especially useful. National Information and online support - National and local domiciliary care service supporting carers with sitting services and training - Coventry City Council information for carers -

8 National information and online support for Young Carers - Alzheimer s Society Coventry Branch Website - anch.php?branch=true&branchcode=14318 NHS Information & support for carers - National information and support Information, advice and support for people aged Government information for carers - dex.htm Information to improve carers health with an interactive forum

9 Confidentiality All Coventry Carers Centre s services are free and confidential, and all of the Centre s staff, volunteers, sessional workers and students are required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement. However, in certain exceptional circumstances some information may need to be passed on to other agencies. These are: If there is a child protection issue If we have reason to believe that your own or someone else s safety is at serious risk This is because we have a legal duty to pass on this information, under the Child Protection and Safeguarding Adults legislation. Before taking action to pass on any information we will, if possible, discuss this with you. Comments, Compliments and Complaints Our aim is to provide a high quality service to Coventry s family carers. We value and encourage comments (both good and bad) about our service, as we wish to continue to make improvements. If you have a comment, compliment or complaint, then please contact any member of staff and ask for a Comment, Compliment and Complaints form. Once you have put your complaint in writing, it will be investigated by the Centre Manager. If you have any questions about any of the information in this brochure, please do not hesitate to contact us, our contact details are on Page 1 of this brochure.