Carer support services

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Carer support services

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Carers Network Hammersmith & Fulham ...3

Getting support from family, friends and other carers ...4

Young carers ...7

An assessment for you and for the person you are looking after ... 7

Personal budgets for carers ...9

Leaving hospital ...10

Local services for you ...11

Local services for the person you are looking after ...11

Working and caring – employment rights ...11

Money and caring – benefits and help with council tax ....12

Looking after yourself ...13

Time for you ...14

Seeing yourself as a carer is the first step to getting the support you need.

Many of us do not see ourselves as carers straight away: we are mums and dads, husbands, wives, partners, brothers, sisters, family, friends and neighbours. We are simply doing what anyone would; caring for a loved one or friend unpaid, helping them through when they are unable to do things for themselves.

Understanding that you are a carer can be the first step in getting access to a range of help and support. This guide aims to let you know about your local services in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

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Telephone or email us to make an appointment. You can also drop in and see us at

Carers Network Bishop Creighton House 370-380 Lillie Road, Fulham London SW6 7PH

020 7386 9417

[email protected] To keep you up to date we can send you our newsletter Network News or you can visit the Looking After Someone section of the People First website at

http://www.peoplefirstinfo.org.

uk/looking-after-someone.aspx For more detailed information on carers’ rights visit the Carers UK website www.carersuk.org

For advice on:

• how to get support

• benefits for carers and their families

• health support for carers

• local services that support carers

• how to get support for the person you look after

Contact Carers Network in Hammersmith & Fulham by telephoning us for advice on 020 7386 9417 at any time. If we are not there to answer your call, then please leave us a message with your name and phone number and we will get back to you as soon as we can. You can email us at [email protected].

Carers Network Hammersmith & Fulham

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Getting support from family, friends and other carers

Many carers turn to family and friends for support. It is important that you do not cope alone, as this can affect your own health.

Speaking to family and friends can help them to know the extent of your caring role. Many family members or friends may not know the level of care you are providing;

they may be embarrassed or don’t want you to think that they are interfering. Other people may be reluctant to ask if you need help, in case you think they are saying you can’t cope. What this means is that you may have to bring the subject up yourself first. But it’s worth it!

You may feel that family and friends are not the best people for you to talk to about your caring role.

Some carers prefer to talk to other carers or you may want to talk to a professional counsellor. Choose whoever you think is best for you.

Talking things over will help you to make choices about how much caring you want to do and the support you need. Deciding what support you need could be the first step to finding it.

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Who can you talk to?

First and Third Monday of every month

3.30-5.00pm

St Matthews Church (Corner of Rosebury Road and Wandsworth Bridge Road)

Wandsworth Bridge Road Fulham, London SW6 2TZ Bus: 295

Wednesday

10.30am-12.30pm Percy Barton House 33-35 Dawes Road, Fulham, London SW6 7DT

Bus: 14, 28, 211, 295, 391, 414 and 424

Tube: Fulham Broadway 2.00-4.00pm

Lala Brasserie 1 Blacks Road,

Hammersmith, London W6 9DT Tube: Hammersmith

First and last Thursday of every month

10.00am-12.00pm

The Library at The Bush Theatre 7 Uxbridge Road,

Shepherds Bush, London W12 8LJ Bus: 283, 260, 607

Tube: Shepherds Bush Market Station

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Drop-in service

There are weekly drop-in services, here you can get one to one information and advice, one in the north and one in the south of the borough. No appointment is necessary.

This group meets twice monthly.

Support group for carers of people with learning disabilities

This group meets twice monthly.

For more information about their informal peer support sessions contact:

Carers Network

Bishop Creighton House 370 – 380 Lillie Road, Fulham London SW6 7PH

0207 386 9417 Tuesday 12.30-4.30pm Grove

Neighbourhood Centre

7 Bradmore Park Road, Hammersmith, London, W6 0DT Bus: 27, 94, 190, 237, 266, 267, 391 and H91

Tube: Ravenscourt Park

Thursday 2.00-4.00pm Avonmore Library

& Neighbourhood Centre

7 North End Crescent Upper Floor London W14 8TG

Bus: 391

Friday

10.00am-2.00pm Bishop Creighton House

370 – 380 Lillie Road, Fulham London SW6 7PH Bus:190, 211, 220, 295

Tube: Fulham Broadway

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Second Thursday of the month 12.30-2.30pm

Carers Network

Bus:190, 211, 220, 295 Tube: Fulham Broadway

Last Thursday of the month 5.30-7.30pm

Carers Network

Bus:190, 211, 220, 295 Tube: Fulham Broadway Relative Connections Family

Therapy Centre

Wednesday from 11.00am- 12.30pm at The Masbro Centre, 87 Masbro Road, W14 0LR

Tuesday from 5.00-6.30pm at CAPS, 69 Warwick Road, Earls Court SW5 9HB

Contact Stephanie on 079 7089 2087

Support for carers of people with mental health needs

This support group meets twice monthly.

Support for carers of people with substance misuse issues

This support group meets twice monthly.

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Young carers

If you are under 18 and looking after someone in your family who is ill or disabled then you may be a young carer.

It may seem a strange way to describe yourself, because looking after someone in your family may feel like a natural role. But being a carer means you have a right to help and support to make life easier.

It can be stressful as well as hard work looking after someone, even when you love them. And it can make it harder to keep up with things at school or college or to find time for yourself to relax, have fun or see your friends.

You can get help and support from Spurgeons. They organise activities so you can get a break and have some fun. They can help you:

• get advice and information

• get referred to other services that can help

• with one to one support and advice

• with free activities and events to meet other young carers both in term time and school holidays

• get into specialist workshops for carers on health, wellbeing and other key areas

Spurgeons

For further details on what is available contact Spurgeons.

Phone: 0208 9698 7812

Email: [email protected]

An assessment for you and for the person you are looking after

Assessments are the first step in getting support from your local council. If you are caring for an adult then ask for

• a carer’s assessment for you and

• a community care assessment for the person you are looking after.

If you are looking after a child, then you usually just need to ask for a Childrens Act assessment.

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Carers’ assessments

Identifying your needs as a carer.

The assessment looks at what you do in your caring role, how being a carer affects you, how much caring you want to do and any help you may need.

The first step to using the services available is to have a Carer’s Assessment. You will meet with either the team at Carers Network or the council’s Adult Services department who will help you look at your own needs and how we can support you.

After your assessment, they will help you to draw up a plan of the support that you need.

You can be assessed again whenever your caring role or circumstances change.

Community care assessments Support for adults who feel they need help because of a disability, ill health or old age can be

accessed through community care assessments.

A community care assessment can look at the help the cared- for person needs to be able to live more independently and the services which can help with this.

A lot of the support that can be put in place and which helps you in your caring role comes through a community care assessment.

While the focus of a community care assessment is the disabled person, in most cases the role and views of the disabled person’s carer should also be taken into account.

Carers’ Small Grants

After your assessment, you may be eligible for a carers’ small grant.

Your assessor can advise you on this. These grants are available every two years.

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Who can help you with assessments?

Carers Network carers

assessments, are recognised by the London Borough of Hammersmith

& Fulham though it is not a statutory assessment. We are able to refer to the Council for a full Statutory Carers Assessment.

To contact Carers Network, please call 020 7386 9417 or email [email protected] Carers Network

Bishop Creighton House 370 – 390 Lillie Road London SW6 7PH

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Personal budgets for carers

A personal budget for a carer is a sum of money paid by the council to carers assessed as needing support following a carers’

assessment.

• travel expenses

• course fees

• exercise classes, relaxation sessions or complementary therapies

• practical objects such as a washing machine or a computer

• driving lessons

• respite breaks so you have some time for yourself

• a holiday so you can have a break either with or without the person you care for.

To be eligible for a personal budget you must be looking after someone who lives in Hammersmith and Fulham. It does not matter where you yourself live. Carers’ personal budgets are available annually.

Advice, information and support

Carers Network are the first point of contact for advice, information and support to help you in your caring role. They provide telephone, one to one and group support. They also offer home visits.

Carers Network 020 7386 9417

[email protected]

Carers Small Grant

You should be eligible for a Small Grant from the council for a short break or to buy something that will help you in your caring role.

This is administered by Carers Network.

[email protected]

Carers Emergency Card Scheme Puts in place back-up care

arrangements if you are involved in an accident or crisis that stops you continuing your caring role.

For more information you can contact:

[email protected]

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Leaving hospital

If the person you are looking after goes into hospital you may have concerns about what will happen when they leave. Leaving hospital is called the discharge process.

As a carer, if the person you look after gives their permission, you should be kept informed throughout the discharge process.

Your views and concerns should be listened to.

You should also have a choice about whether you’ll provide care when the person you look after leaves hospital. If you need support in your caring role or do not feel that you can provide care for the person you are looking after – you should say so.

Each hospital has its own

discharge policy – so how do you know what to do?

• Talk with the nurses and medical practitioners about what needs to be done after discharge.

• Ask the nursing team for a copy of the hospital discharge policy.

• Remember that you should be kept informed about what happens when the person you are looking after leaves the hospital.

• Always ask for social worker involvement if you feel the person you are looking after has substantial, ongoing or complex needs.

Carers Network Hammersmith and Fulham can provide you with more information about hospital discharge.

Carers Network 020 7886 9417

[email protected] Carers Network Hammersmith and Fulham

An advice and information service for carers – helping carers make choices about the support they need.

[email protected] Carers Forum for carers in Hammersmith & Fulham A quarterly meeting where carers can have their say on health and social care services in the London Borough of Hammersmith &

Fulham. Contact the Forum via Carers Network

[email protected]

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Local services for you

Local services for the person you are looking after

Working and caring

Working and caring can feel like holding down two jobs! But there is support available and as a carer you do have rights.

If you are a carer in paid

employment it is a good idea to check your employer’s policies for supporting carers in the first instance. You do not have to tell your employer about your caring responsibilities, but you might find that if you inform your manager or personnel officer about your

situation they can help you manage your two roles.

Your employer should be able to tell you about:

• Your right to take time off in an emergency, for example, to arrange alternative care if the care package you have in place breaks down.

• Your right to ask for flexible working, for example, to work part time, flexi-time, or to do some or all of your job from home.

• Their own policies for carers in the workplace, for example, career breaks and early

retirement.

You could also ask your employer for more practical help such as access to a phone – perhaps in a private space – so that you can contact the person you care for if you need to.

You may feel you need more help so you can stay in employment.

You can contact your care manager or the social worker of the person you look after and ask what support or additional support the council can provide.

Carers Network can provide you with more information about how working carers can get support.

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Money and caring

Becoming a carer can bring big changes to your financial situation.

Your income may take a dramatic drop through giving up work or reducing your working hours and you may face extra costs, such as heating or travel costs, because you are looking after someone.

Sorting out your financial situation can seem daunting. But help with claiming benefits is available.

Benefits

The benefits system can seem like a maze; you have to decide which of the many available benefits you should apply for, which office to go to, and which forms you need to fill in. The benefits you can claim will depend on a number of factors including your income, savings, how old you are and whether you have worked and paid national insurance contributions. The best way to start sorting out your benefits is to get advice.

You may also be concerned about the changes to the benefit system that the government is introducing from April 2013. Carers Network will be able to keep you up to date with these changes and how they might affect you.

Other help

Benefits are not the only way of getting financial help. You may be able to apply for:

• a reduction in your Council Tax bill

• help with the cost of a holiday

• a grant to help adapt your home to meet the needs of the person you care for

• help to manage your heating costs, for example, to install central heating or changing to a better tariff to reduce fuel bills

• charity grants

Carers Network can provide checks on entitlement to carer benefits for you and the person you are looking after, help with completing forms and information about other sources of financial support.

[email protected] Money Advice Service Find out if your finances are in a healthy state and get tips for a healthier financial lifestyle by visiting

www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk

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Looking after yourself

There is no doubt that without the right support caring can damage your health. You’ll need to find the balance between caring and looking after your own health needs. It’s not an easy balance to find, but remember, the better your physical and emotional well-being, the better you will be able to cope with the demands of caring.

Tell your GP

As soon as you begin caring tell your GP that you are a carer. If they know you are likely to be under pressure at times, they will find it easier to diagnose and treat you and offer the advice and support you need. As a carer, you will probably carry on regardless through coughs, flu, stomach upsets and worse; but don’t put off seeing your doctor if you feel ill.

Counselling

Some carers find it very helpful to talk over their caring role with someone who isn’t family or a friend. It gives you some time to think about yourself and talk things over with someone who is impartial and independent.

Getting some exercise

Whether it is a walk in the park, a swim at the local pool or an hour at the gym – any exercise that you enjoy is good for you! It’s great for reducing stress and can help you to get through those difficult days.

Emergencies

Many carers worry about what will happen if they become ill or an emergency arises and they cannot continue to provide care or support.

Hammersmith and Fulham run an emergency card scheme to ensure that alternative care is put in place if there is an emergency. Contact Carers Network for further details or to join the scheme.

Phone:

020 8753 4616 Email:

[email protected]

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Who can help you look after yourself?

Carers Counselling Service Back on Track – Improving Access to Psychological Therapies

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme supports the frontline NHS in implementing National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for people suffering from depression and anxiety disorders.

Telephone number:

0300 123 1156.

Our self-referral hotline is open from 9.30am-12.30pm Monday to Friday.

Getting some time for yourself

It’s important to make sure that you can organise some time away from caring.

• If you are looking after an adult, get a carer’s assessment so that the council can look into providing you with someone to take over for a while.

• If you have already had assessments but you are not managing to get some time for yourself, ask the council for a review.

• Remember that one of the ways you can use a personal budget is to get a holiday – and taking a break can make a real difference.

• If you are looking after a child get a Children Act assessment.

This will look at the support the whole family needs.

You may also want to meet up with other carers for activities, trips out and the chance to share your experiences.

taking a break can make a real difference

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Who can help you to get some time for yourself?

Carers Network

Runs free social activities open to all ages.

Phone:

020 7886 9417 Email:

[email protected]

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www.lbhf.gov.uk

Published by Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

July 2014

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Tick below if you would like a copy of this leaflet in:

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Please return this section to:

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Hammersmith, London W6 9XY Telephone:

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Comments

We always welcome comments, suggestions or feedback from our carers, which can be sent to:

Senior Commissioning Manager - Carers 77 Glenthorne Road Hammersmith, London W6 0LJ

Email:

[email protected] Fax:

020 8753 5880