Carers

Caring for a partner or family member is an incredibly 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.

Financial support for carers

Carer's allowance and older carers
This is a leaflet with advice for those assisting other people later in their lives.

National organisations supporting carers

Carers UK
This is the voice of carers, it highlights the true value of carers' contribution to society.

Help and advice for carers
This website provides helpful information and advice on caring for someone close to you. There is advice on arranging care cover, looking after yourself and health benefits for carers.

Princess Royal Trust for Carers  
This website explains what a carer is, how they can access different kinds of support, and also allows them to share their own experiences.
 
Caring for someone (Direct.gov)
This page provides useful information on topics such as: caring for a disabled child, taking a break from caring and financial support.

Counsel and Care
This national charity works with older people, their families and carers in order to get the best care and support. They provide help and advice via an advice line on a number of topics.

Voluntary Organisations specifically supporting carers in Essex

Essex Carers Support
They are a voluntary organisation dedicated to supporting informal carers of any age regardless of the nature of the disability.

Action for family carers
This is a registered charity providing support and information to unpaid Carers in mid Essex.

Epping Forest Carer Support
This is an organisation that provides advice, information and development support services. They have two dedicated carers enquiry lines.

Harlow Caring for Carers
This group offers information, support and advice to carers, (both adults and children). There is a fortnightly youth club for young carers and a weekly club on Tuesdays where support workers will offer carers respite.

Uttlesford Carers (Carers UK)
This organisation is run by carers for carers. Their branches provide an opportunity to meet other carers, who understand what's involved in caring and can share useful information and skills.

Colchester Carers Centre
At this centre they aim to provide support, advice and information on an individual basis to carers and their families.

Essex Carers Network  
This represents the views of carers of adults and children with learning disabilities in Essex and promotes these views to those people who are influential in the policy making process.

RAD Deaf Carers Support Essex
This project provides access to support groups and breaks from caring.

Southend Carers Forum
This charity has a range of support groups where carers can chat and share information and advice. They also have an online support service where cares can access advice from home and submit questions.

Equipment to help carers

Telecare in Essex  (PDF)
This document provides details of how Telecare can be used to improve the lives of those you care for, and lists details of who you can contact.

Young Carers

A young carer is a child or young person under the age of 18 carrying out significant caring tasks and assuming a level of responsibility for another person, which would normally be taken by an adult. To assist young carers in Essex a number of Young Carers Support Projects have been set up throughout the County.

Young carers (Direct.gov) 
This page provides information on assessments for young carers and support that is available at a local level.

The Children's Society
Here young carers can access help and support. It contains advice on managing homework, health, school and social activities.

YCnet  
This is an online community of young carers providing a discussion forum or offering advice from our qualified youth workers.

Respite schemes in Essex:

Braintree & District Crossroads  01245 360706
Brentwood & District Crossroads (covering Brentwood and Basildon)  01277 201789
Castlepoint Crossroads   01268 681720
Redbridge, Epping and Harlow Crossroads (Epping and Harlow Office)  01992 572557
Tendring Crossroads  01255 860960
Uttlesford Crossroads 01799 513496
Carer's Relief and Elderly Support Service  01621 876718 / 859967

Statutory Responsibilities

The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 states that a carer has a right to assessment if they provide/intend to provide substantial amount of care on a regular basis and "The local authority must carry out such an assessment if it is satisfied that the person cared for is someone for whom it may provide or arrange the provision of community care services"
The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 placed a duty on Local Authorities to inform carers of their rights to assessment. It also puts a duty on other agencies such as health to consider requests for services made as a result of assessments

The Carers Assessment

The assessment is the process of understanding the carer's situation and establishing how the caring responsibility impacts on them. The assessment considers what would help ensure the carer can sustain their caring role while maintaining their personal health and wellbeing.
The Assessment must address not only the current caring situation but also the carer's ability to continue to provide care in the future. It must also consider whether they work or wish to work, whether they are still in higher education or wish to undertake training and their ability to be able to enjoy 'free time' and leisure activities. These must be addressed whilst also taking into account the carers physical health and mental wellbeing.
Any assessment of the 'carers need for support' has to look at the impact that caring has on all aspects of life.
For a carers assessment call:  0845 6037630

Eligibility for a Carers Assessment

Legislation has been brought in to affect which confirms a carers eligibility to receive an assessment. The set criteria once met allows the carer to have an assessment and potentially receive services and support through Essex County Council.
The Government is implementing a new strategy based on the vision of 'Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities'. The Carers Strategy hopes to make real the vision that by 2018 carers will be respected as expert care partners and will have access to integrated and personalised support services.

Conducting a Carers Assessment

The assessment should is based on a series of exchanges with the carer and can often comprise of a friendly discussion between carer and assessor to reach the best possible view on the way forward. The carer is respected as the 'expert'
on their own circumstances and the caring role. The aim will be to help develop and draw on the carer's own abilities and skills to find solutions to the problems they are experiencing. Attention should be paid to the carers own health & wellbeing needs and creative solutions to reduce isolation and stress should be sought.
The Essex Carers Grapevine (reprint November 2008) can be used as a resource following an assessment. This publication gives contact details on 'third sector' carers organisations together with other relevant and useful information.

Carers Direct Payments

There are opportunities to utilise Carers Direct Payments to assist the carer to maintain and continue their caring role. They should not be used to pay for services that are required as a result of a Community Care Assessment and cannot be used to purchase personal care. They should not be used to fund respite or breaks as these should be provided, in the main, via the service user's assessment.

Cross Border Assessments of Carers

There is a Protocol for assessment of carers who live in a different local authority area to that of the person they care for.
Government Guidance

1. The Practice Guidance to the above Act, issued in 2001, is advisory and includes advice on the difficulties faced by those 'caring at a distance'. It states that local councils will need to work in partnership with neighbouring and other councils to ensure that carers needs are appropriately assessed and appropriate support provided.

2. Paragraph 26 of the Practice Guidance states that "the service user's home authority has responsibility for the carer's assessment and provision of services even if carers' services (such as buying a washing machine) might need to be provided in a different council area."

3. The guidance goes on to describe more complicated situations but in all cases places the responsibility for assessment with the authority supporting the eligible user. It recommends the development of protocols covering the need for cooperation and co-ordination in such circumstances. This document is a response to that suggestion.

Agencies addressing carers needs

Support is available to help agencies identify evidence to meet targets such as NI135 relating to grants/financial assistance and to demonstrate how objectives are being met.  Advice and support is available to agencies offering help and advice to carers within Essex.  Please contact Gillian Thomas on 01206 266101 (leave message) or gillian.thomas@essex.gov.uk

Carers Direct website
This was launched on NHS Choices to improve support for the UK's growing number of carers. It is a single and comprehensive online resource for carer-specific information, including guidance on the different stages of caring, information for claiming benefits, advice for young carers and case studies with videos. The service also includes a telephone advice line launching at the start of May. Future developments to Carers Direct will allow carers to receive answers to email enquiries and join online forums.