Carers information booklet 2013/14 Valid until April 2014 Produced by Cheshire and Warrington Carers Centre and supported by Council Version 1 December 2013
Introduction Carers look after family, partners or friends who could not manage without this help because they are ill, frail or have a disability.. The care they provide is unpaid. Caring responsibilities are unpredictable. Caring can happen over time but it can also happen very suddenly. As a carer you are entitled to help and support. There are a range of services and organisations that can support you. These include: Your local council Adults Services and Children s Services departments. Your local GP and Primary Care team Local and national organisations e.g. Cheshire and Warrington Carers Centre and Crossroads Care Cheshire, Manchester and Merseyside Department for Work and Pensions and local Job Centre Plus Carer s Needs Assessment As a carer you are entitled to a carer s needs assessment. This gives you the chance to discuss your caring responsibilities with social services. They will consider the help you need to look after your own health and balance all aspects of your life, including work and family responsibilities. You can contact them during office hours on 0300 123 5010. If you would like support or more information before your carer s needs assessment, please contact Cheshire and Warrington Carers Centre on 0800 085 0307.
GP and Primary Care Team Your doctor and primary care team are a good place to get information and support both for you and the person you care for. They can provide information on how to manage the condition of the person you are looking after, provide regular health checks for yourself and advise on using specialist equipment. They may also be able to make a referral for you to access other support services. Each GP practice also has a Carer Link who can signpost carers to appropriate sources of support and information. Local Support There are a number of organisations in which provide help, support and specialist advice to carers and the people they care for. Some of them describe their services in the following pages. You can find out more details of the services available in your local area by contacting them directly.
Supporting people with any type of dementia, their families and carers in Our local dementia support service offers: Support and information for people living with dementia Support and information for carers Information about benefits and other support services Peer support groups Dementia cafés Befriending Specialist services for people with early onset dementia Activities and wellbeing groups Specialist caring and coping courses for carers Reminiscence library Macclesfield office Springbank Centre Victoria Road Macclesfield SK10 3LS Tel: 01625 503302 Fax: 01625 613704 east-cheshire@alzheimers.org.uk Crewe and Nantwich office EG4 Electra House Electra Way Crewe Business Park Crewe CW1 6GL Tel: 01270 501901 Fax: 01270 216910 southcheshire@alzheimers.org.uk www.alzheimers.org.uk The Alzheimer s Society is the leading care and research charity for people affected by any form of dementia. Registered Charity No: 296645
Cheshire and Warrington Carers Centre provides information, advice and support for all carers across. All of our services are free. The Centre offers: A freephone helpline A regular newsletter Centre drop in sessions Benefits advice for carers Appointments/home visits Personal budgets for carers Monthly support groups Training courses Relaxation vouchers and alternative therapy sessions Reablement project The Carers Resource Centre Units 1, 14 and 15 Brierley Business Centre Mirion St. Crewe CW1 2AZ Tel: 01270 257331/215440 crewe@cheshirecarerscentre.org.uk Carers Centre Outreach office Carers Retreat Waters Green House Waters Green Sunderland St Macclesfield SK11 6LF Tel: 01625 616686 eastcheshire@cheshirecarerscentre.org.uk To access any of our services, please call the Carers Helpline on 0800 085 0307 (Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm) www.carers.org/cheshire The Centre is a network partner of Carers Trust.
Do you care for someone who experiences mental ill health or dementia? Making Space can support you in your caring role Making Space offers the following services for carers of people with long term mental health problems in : Carer Support Services: we can provide emotional support, information about mental health, medication and side effects, early intervention support, access to benefits and carer s needs assessments, as well as signposting to other services and events in your local area. To access this service please call either 01606 330420 or 07794 241869 Carer Breaks. We organise a number of breaks for carers including theatre trips, riverboat cruises, spa breaks and many more. We also have a series of workshops, giving carers the chance to learn about the effects of mental ill health, the impact this can have on the person experiencing the illness and their carers. To access our carer breaks please call 01606 331612
Crossroads Care Cheshire, Manchester and Merseyside is a local charity offering a wide range of high quality, emotional and practical support services to carers and the people they care for. We support carers of all ages, including young carers under the age of 18, who care for someone with any long term condition or disability including: physical disability, dementia, learning disabilities, problems with drugs or alcohol, disabled children, mental illness or people at the end of life. Our services include: Specialist care for adults and disabled children delivered in the home Carer Crisis Service Carer support groups Carer breaks Social groups for people with care needs A young carers (and siblings) project Social skills groups for adults and children with Aspergers Care at end of life (and bereavement support) Carers advisory scheme (In Time Project) Support for working carers General enquiries are welcome. Some services are free or can be purchased privately or through personal budgets. For more information about any of our services please contact us: Crossroads Care Cheshire, Manchester and Merseyside Overton House, West Street Congleton Cheshire CW12 1JY Tel: 01260 292850 Fax: 01260 292851 Email: help@crossroadsce.org.uk Crossroads Care Cheshire, Manchester and Merseyside is a network partner of Carers Trust.. www.crossroadsce.org.uk
leah.cobley@ youngcarersnetwork.co.uk Tel: 07848 022804 Central office Stanlaw Abbey Business Centre Dover Drive Ellesmere Port CH65 9BF Crewe Office YMCA Building 189 Gresty Road Crewe CW2 6EL
Carers Employment Development Support (GMCP) Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership is experienced in delivering flexible menus of local delivered packages of personal development activities for carers to build self-esteem, self confidence, raise aspirations, and improve communication skills, self-reliance and support to find employment which includes: Skills analysis how to develop skills Employability skills CV support Provide up to date information on employment opportunities and labour market information Job search support and advice Volunteering support Referral to National Careers Service One to one advice and guidance service Review of local learning opportunities Understanding of the digital agenda Resilience awareness Effective internet research Access to supportive training Literacy and Numeracy skills development Social media awareness We help carers to improve self-confidence, raise aspirations and provide support finding appropriate learning, training and employment opportunities. For more information contact Nicola: 07791 333241 or email nicolaholyoak@connexionslive.com
Work and Caring Most working carers have the right to request a flexible working pattern from their employer to help them to balance their work and caring responsibilities. Flexible working could include: flexible starting and finishing times compressed working hours (e.g. working 35 hours over a 4 day period) annualised working hours, job sharing, term-time or part time working, home-working or tele-working. You also have the right to take a reasonable amount of time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependent. Your employer decides whether the time off is paid or not. For more information on work and caring you can call the Cheshire and Warrington Carers Centre on 0800 085 0307 or go to the Council website: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk health and social care information pages. Finance and Benefits The benefits system often changes so it s best to get advice from someone who knows the system well. Cheshire and Warrington Carers Centre will be able to work out your entitlements to benefits and may also help you fill in the relevant forms. There are details of other national benefits helplines in the contacts section below.
Useful organisations and contacts Local organisations Information, support and advice Cheshire and Warrington Carers Centre Cheshire Helpline: 0800 085 0307 www.carers.org/cheshire Citizens Advice Bureau helpline - North helpline CVS Looking after me course for carers Infolink Cheshire - information on local and national health services Congleton, Crewe, Nantwich, Macclesfield, Knutsford,Poynton 08444 111444 01625 505617/07909 528759 Cheshire www.infolinkcheshire.nhs.uk Practical support services/home care/carer breaks Crossroads Cheshire, Manchester and Merseyside Help in an emergency 01260 292850 www.crossroadsce.org.uk Council Between 8.30am - 5pm call: 0300 123 5010 (if you are concerned for the welfare of an adult) 0300 123 5012 (if you are concerned for the welfare of a child) Out of hours: 0300 123 5025
Useful organisations and contacts Parent Carers Parent Carer Support Service Cheshire and Warrington Carers Centre Parent Partnership - supporting parents of children with special educational needs Parent and Carers Forum to share experience and influence decision-making Young Carers Crossroads Cheshire, Manchester and Merseyside - support and activities 01606 352834 01625 374278 parentpartnership@cheshireeast. gov.uk 01625 374278 01260 292850 help@crossroadsce.org.uk Cheshire Young Carers - group based activities and projects Older people Age UK - including information & advice and help at home for over 50s 07848 022804 01625 612958 www.ageukcheshireeast.org Home repair & accident prevention for vulnerable and elderly Care and repair - Council 0300 123 5017 (option 3) careandrepair@cheshireeast.gov.uk www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/housing/contact_housing/private_sector_housing.aspx Equipment Choicequip - equipment specifically designed for people with a disability - assessment and referral East Cheshire, Initial Response OT team 01625 374028
Useful organisations and contacts Organisations supporting people with disabilities and illness Alzheimer s Society - dementia outreach, caring and Coping for carers courses for carers East Cheshire - 01625 503302 South Cheshire - 01270 501901 www.alzheimers.org.uk British Red Cross - Care in the Home, medical loans, equipment HQ 01565 650201 www.redcross.org.uk Cheshire Centre for Independent Living - information advice & brokerage services 01606 331853/0845 3402777 www.cheshirecil.org Disability Resource Exchange - information and assistance with access Macclesfield Disability Information Bureau Making Space - supporting families caring for someone with mental illness Neuromuscular Centre - supporting people with muscular dystrophy and carers Stroke Assocation - including carer support St. Luke s Cheshire Hospice - carer support East Cheshire Hospice - carer support Crewe 01270 501535 www.drecrewe.org.uk Macclesfield 01625 501759 www.dibservices.org.uk 01606 330420/07794 241869 www.makingspace.co.uk Winsford 01606 860911 www.nmcentre.com Macclesfield 01625 612044 Crewe 01270 612385 www.stroke.org.uk Winsford 01606 551246 www.stlukes-hospice.co.uk Macclesfield 01625 610364 www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk
Useful organisations and contacts National organisations Alzheimer s Society - care & research charity for people with dementia Autistic Society - confidential helpline for advice and support www.alzheimers.org.uk 0300 222 1122 www.autism.org.uk 0808 800 4104 Carers Direct - website and confidential free phone helpline: 0300 123 1053 www.nhs.uk/carersdirect Young Carers hub: www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/young/pages/youngcarershome.aspx Carers UK- providing information and campaigning for change Contact a Family - offers families information on specific medical conditions Gov.uk - Government Information on carers allowance Mencap learning disabilities helpline Multiple Sclerosis Society - support and information NHS - information on medical conditions and treatment Carers Trust - information and advice for carers Young Carers YC Net - Information, discussion boards and chat room www.carersuk.org Advice line: 0808 808 7777 www.cafamily.org.uk 0808 808 3555 www.gov.uk/carers-allowance Website only www.mencap.org.uk 0808 808 1111 www.mssociety.org.uk 0808 800 8000 www.nhs.uk 0845 4647 www.carers.org 0844 800 4361 www.youngcarers.net 0844 800 4361
Useful organisations and contacts Benefits and pensions helplines Disability Living Allowance/ Attendance Allowance 08457 123 456 Carers Allowance Unit 08456 084 321 Pensions Advisory Service 08456 012923 Patient Advice and Liaison Service For information about services and patient care in hospitals and your local area. NHS South Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) NHS East Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) 01270 275283 01625 663477 East Cheshire NHS Trust 01625 421000 Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust Healthwatch Independent Complaints Advocacy Service - assist with complaints about health services you have received 01270 255141 0800 195 4462 Cheshire and Merseyside 0808 801 0389