Care and carers

This page contains information on paying for support and organisations that can help provide care and advice.

Care at home  
Find out about what services are available to help people live independently in their own home, how needs will be assessed and any costs associated with this. Caring for a partner or family member is an increasingly demanding job that is usually unpaid.  If you are one of the many people who find themselves having to juggle caring with work, receiving little financial support or time off, read on to find out how help could be at hand.

Residential care
Information on residential care homes and services provided as well as how funding for this will be determined.

Carers
Caring for a partner or family member is an incredibly demanding job - find information to help.

Paying for care and support

Information for third sector colleagues (PDF)
This letter explains how the document below can be of benefit to the public around independent financial advice in relation to care costs.

Paying for long term care in England (PDF)
This document has been developed by a group of public organisations and charities to help people make more informed decisions about paying for care, and to encourage people to get information and advice about the use of their money for this purpose.

Self directed support (PDF)
A guide from Essex County Council

Care organisations and advice

Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission registers, inspects and reports on social care services in England.
Their website contains information on:
> Care homes
> Domiciliary care (home care)
> Nurse agencies
> Adult placement schemes
> Quality ratings are also provided, so the user/carer has an informed choice

Directory of care homes and care services
This directory is provided by the Care Quality Commission. Here you can search for Adult placement schemes, home care, nursing agencies and care homes which cater for specific needs.

Action for Family Carers
This website provides carers with a wealth of relevant information in the help directory, as well as information and contact details for all our local carer's centres around the UK. They also have the largest community of online carers on the internet, where carers can exchange news, views, feelings and advice via our discussion boards and chat room.

Caring With Confidence
A free programme that can help you to make a positive difference to your life and the person you care for, which can improve your own health and wellbeing and that for the person they care for. Why not visit a free local group session or an online workshop where information can be found on the website.

Counsel and Care  
A national charity getting the best care and support for older people, their families and carers. They provide advice, information and financial support and act to influence policies, services and funding for older people.

Direct Gov website
Information on caring for someone including carer's assessments and rights.

Essex Respite Association
They provide a weekly 3 hour respite break for Carers of people with a mental health diagnosis. They send a highly qualified support worker to care for the care receiver giving the carer a much needed respite break. The support worker can also take the cared for out into the community for shopping, tea, and lunch or other activities to assist them with social inclusion.

First Stop  
This service offers advice on care, housing and financial options for older people and their carers.

Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund
This provides a combination of grant funding and support to third-sector organisations working with volunteers in the health and social care field.

Tell me about Social Care  (Essex and Southend LINk PDF)
This leaflet provides information on what Social Care is about, and how you can access Social Care services.