You may not see yourself as a ‘carer’ but rather as the wife, partner, daughter, brother or friend of the person who needs help. We use the term ‘carer’ to describe anyone looks after someone who cannot live at home without some support and who is unpaid. It does not include employees of care agencies or volunteers. As a carer you have a right to have your needs considered and sometimes to receive help. This leaflet explains what you are entitled to and how you go about getting support for yourself.

This leaflet is intended for carers of adults. If you are the parent of a disabled child your needs will be assessed along with the needs of your child. Contact the Disabled Children’s team, telephone 01225 825307 for information and assistance about help for parent carers.

How can I get help?

You are entitled under the law to have an assessment of your needs, if you are providing a substantial amount of care for a disabled person living at home, on a regular basis.  The term ‘disabled’ includes frail older people and people suffering from mental illness and dementia.

Usually, the person you care for will be having an assessment of their own needs which should take into account your needs as their carer.  A joint assessment is often the best way of helping you both. When the person you care for is assessed, you will be involved in the assessment and your views and needs taken into account when deciding what services if any will be provided.

You should also be offered a further, separate assessment of your needs which can go into greater detail. You are legally entitled to a separate assessment of your needs as a carer even if the person who you care for refuses an assessment. You may in some circumstances be eligible for services in your own right. However, some services, such as personal care, can only be provided to the person you care for if they agree to an assessment.

You should not feel that you have to undertake or continue in a caring role unless you wish to.

What is an assessment?

An assessment is a conversation with a professional person about you, your circumstances, needs and wishes.  An assessment is required to decide what kind of services, if any, should be offered.  However it can be useful in itself, as a chance to consider your situation confidentially with a sympathetic and knowledgeable person, who will be able to point you towards various kinds of help and support.

Sometimes people feel worried about the term ‘assessment. It is not some kind of test of how well you are performing as a carer, neither does it commit you to accepting help or to carry on caring. It is not intended to intrude on your personal life, but is offered purely to assist you. We do not share information about you with other people or agencies unless you consent for us to do so.

An assessment should look widely at the impact that caring has on you.  It should cover a number of issues, for example whether you need a regular break from caring and how this can be achieved.  It should also offer a chance to think about how you can plan for an emergencies, e.g. if you became temporarily unable to continue caring for any reason. You should feel free to bring up any issues that concern you.

It can also be an opportunity to consider what you will do if and when your caring role comes to an end, for example whether you may want to re-enter employment and sources of training.

You are entitled to have the assessment conversation in private and anything you say will not be shared with the person you care for without your permission. 

We may occasionally need to contact other people, for example medical professionals, to gain a full picture of the situation, but will only do so with your permission.

How can I get an assessment?

If the person you look after is currently having an assessment, you should speak to the professional who is your main contact.   If you prefer, you can ask for a different professional to carry out a separate Carer’s Assessment.

Otherwise, contact the Adult Duty Team on 01225 477000 and say that you would like to have a Carer’s Assessment. You will be asked for certain basic information and then arrangements will be made for you to meet with a social worker.

What happens after assessment?

When your assessment is completed, we will discuss with you the help needed. The aim is to help you establish what your own goals are, and then see how these can be achieved. This will be set out in a Carers Action Plan. You will receive a copy of your assessment and Action Plan.

Certain kinds of help are available only if a carer meets certain eligibility criteria, which generally means that they must have a high level of need for that service. We will take into account your views and wishes, but we cannot guarantee to provide all the services that you request. This is because we have to help people in the greatest need first and according to our resources.

The Action Plan should include plans for what help might be needed in an emergency e.g. if you became ill. Remember, if your circumstances change we can look again at the situation. For example, if the person you care for needs more help or your health deteriorates, we will reassess you, so please get in touch.

Confidentiality

All information given to a Social Services employee is confidential. All Social Services staff (and staff of other agencies with whom we work) are trained to keep information confidential. Information will not be passed on without your consent, but if we are to provide services or refer to another agency we may need to pass on such information in order to provide a service. If there is any specific piece of information which you do not wish passed on to a particular person or agency, you should tell the person completing the assessment.

Information will be held on a computerised system, with security systems in place, as well as paper files. The Data Protection Act 1998 applies to all such information. You can ask for our leaflet ‘Confidentiality in Bath & North East Somerset Social Services’ from your social worker or local Social Services office.

What support would help you best?

We provide various types of support and service - some from our own staff, some provided by local grant funded voluntary organisations and some provided on our behalf by independent agencies.

The types of support we can give include:

• Someone to sit while you go out for a few hours
• Alternative care in a care home to give you a longer break from caring
• Help with particular tasks to relieve pressure on you
• Advice, information and support in your role as carer.
• Advice on employment.

You can also contribute to the development of services by taking part in local focus groups and consultations.

Will I have to pay for services?

This depends on the kind of service provided. Information and advice is always free of charge to whoever needs it. Some services like respite care may be chargeable according to the means of the person receiving the care.  The person carrying out your assessment will be able to give you information about charges.

Young Carers

If you are a young person under 18 with caring responsibilities you are entitled to a separate assessment. There is a special project for young people based at Off the Record (address and telephone number below) which works with young people who have caring responsibilities.

Useful Local Organisations/contacts

Social Services Adult Duty Team

For an assessment for you and/or the person you care for, or just for information and advice, contact the Adult Duty Team on 01225 477000. A qualified social worker is always available.

Callers in person can go to Lewis house, Manvers Street, Bath (opposite the Police Station)

Opening Hours; Monday Tuesday and Thursday 8.30 am to 5.00pm

Wednesday 9.30 am to 5.00pm

Friday 8.30 to 4.30 pm.

Emergency Duty Team

This service provides a contact point out of office hours and is for emergencies which cannot wait until the Adult Duty desk is next open. The telephone number is 01454 615165.

Council Website

A range of information about Council services including Social and Housing services is available from our website: www.bathnes.gov.uk

The Primary Care Trust

is responsible for GP and other community based health services locally. Their website contains useful information, for example about eligibility for continuing NHS funded care, and about the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). www.banes-pct.nhs.uk

The Care Network

The Care Network is an independent carers’ organisation and member of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers. It works across Bath & North East Somerset with carers aged from eighteen upwards.  It provides:

• Information and advice on carers rights, assessments, benefits, respite and a range of community services
• Access to training and courses
• Support with care planning or hospital discharge meetings
• Practical & emotional support
• A dedicated carersline
• Quarterly newsletters
• Time out activities & opportunities to meet other carers

Have your say – Carers Together

The Care Network also runs a project called Carers Together, which aims to represent the views of carers and to influence policy and services for carers locally. You can contribute your views and experiences by taking part in Focus groups and other forms of consultation in a friendly and supportive environment.

Contact the Coordinator, Carers Together, at The Care Network (details as above).

Young Carers Project at Off the Record offers a similar service to that provided by Carers Support, but only for young people under 18. Contact:

• Keynsham :  Off the Record, Milward House, 1 Bristol Road, Keynsham BS18 2BA Telephone 0117 986 8353
• Midsomer Norton Off The Record, 113a High Street, Midsomer Norton BA3 2DA Telephone: 01225 312481
• Bath: Off The Record Open House Centre, Manvers Street, Bath BA2 1JW Telephone: 01225 312481

Email: info@offtherecord.demon.co.uk

Web: www.offtherecord-banes.co.uk

Crossroads Caring for Carers in Bath & North East Somerset

Crossroads Care is a national voluntary organisation for carers. Locally it is grant funded to provide alternative care to older frail and physically disabled people at home so that the carer can have a few hours break. To receive the service you will first need to have an assessment from Social Services. Contact the Adult Duty Team, details above.

Contact: Crossroads Care 1 Riverside Cottages Radstock BA3 3PS Telephone 01761 436673.

Rethink

A national organisation which provides local services for people under 65 with mental health problems, including various forms of help for their carers. For further information contact them on 0117 986 4706.

Benefits Advice

There are a variety of benefits the person you or the person you care for may be entitled to. For further information contact:

Midsomer Norton

Citizen’s Advice Bureau Town Hall The Island, Midsomer Norton BA3 2HQ Telephone 01761 418599

Keynsham

Citizen’s Advice Bureau Community Centre, Town Hall, Keynsham BS31 1EF Telephone: 0117 986 0917

Bath

Citizen’s Advice Bureau 2 Edgar Buildings Bath BA1 2EE Telephone 01225 463333

Benefit Enquiry Line: a free, confidential telephone service for people with disabilities and their carers – 0800 882 200

See also the Department of Work and Pensions’ useful website at www.dwp.gov.uk.