CarersCarers
Supporting Carers
Carers Information Booklet.pdf [198k]
The Integrated Adult Services Directorate know that Carers have a very important part to play in looking after people who are ill, frail or have a disability thus enabling them to live at home.
For more information on the Latest News which may affect you as a carer then please follow the link.
Are you a Carer?
How do you know if you are a carer? Well, if you are someone who provides regular and unpaid support for a relative, friend or neighbour of any age who is ill, or frail, has a disability or mental health need then you are a carer. The care you provide can involve physical and/or emotional support. You could be an adult, an older person or a child. Carers can be found across all age groups. You’re needs may be different from those of the person you care for and the support you need may differ. Caring for someone can be a very rewarding experience, but it can also be demanding, stressful and tiring. We understand that and we will offer you support if appropriate.
Useful Link:
Carers Direct - Information, advice and support
www.nhs.uk/carersdirect
Tel: Freephone 0808 802 0202
Return to Top
Your Rights as a Carer
- You have the right to an assessment of your own needs as a carer. The person you care for does not have to be in receipt of services from the authority for you to request this.
- If you look after someone for substantial amounts of time and they couldn’t cope without your support you may be entitled to support in your own right. **
- You have the right to have your views taken into account.
- You have the right for your contribution as a carer to be recognised.
- You have the right to information about complaints procedures. (Available from the Duty Office. See below for the address).
- You have the right to confidentiality. The person you care for does not need to know that you have contacted us and they do not need to be present when you discuss your needs with us.
- If you work, are learning new skills, enjoy leisure activities or would like to do any of those things, then this must be taken into account when you are assessed.
Return to Top
Finding out about you and the help you need
As we mentioned above, before we can decide what support we can offer you, we need to find out about you and the impact that being a carer has on your life. This will ensure we offer you the right kind of support to enable you to carry on caring. We like to do this by sending someone called a care manager to talk to you, either on your own or with the person you care for. We call this meeting an assessment. There are two types of assessment that you could be involved in.
- A Community Care Assessment
- A Carers Assessment
A community care assessment considers the needs of the person you care for. You can contribute to this as part of their assessment and any services provided may benefit you.
A carers assessment will be offered to you if you are providing a substantial amount of support to someone on a regular basis and you are 16 or over.
It’s your choice whether or not you choose to have an assessment, but we would really appreciate it if you did, because it would help us to help you. Together, we can plan what support you may need to allow you to continue caring. If you do decide you don’t want one now that’s fine, you can always change your mind at a later date and ask for one then.
If you would like to talk to someone about your role as a carer, please telephone one of these numbers:
(01685) 724500 (Adult Carers)
(01685) 724506 (young Carers)
** Please be aware that there may be a charge for the services you receive**
Return to Top
What help is available?
There are lots of ways in which we can help you. In many cases, the support we provide to the person you care for will also meet your needs and that will be sufficient. For some, additional help will be needed. Some of the services which are available and could help make caring a little easier and help you to continue caring include the following:
- Home Support – to help the person you care for to stay in their own home
- Respite Care – A break from your caring role. This could be for a few hours or several days.
- Minor adaptations to the home – such as handrails or ramps
- Information and advice – to give you support and guidance when you need it
Return to Top
What information is available?
You can find information leaflets at a number of local places. A local voluntary organisation called the Merthyr Tydfil Carers Strategy Network have, along with partner agencies produced a Carers Information Pack. It is a reference guide for anybody working with carers or for those who are caring for someone.
The pack is available at a variety of outlets including council offices, libraries, G.P Surgeries, local hospitals.
Return to Top
Contact Addresses
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Integrated Adult Services Directorate
Riverside Court
Avenue De Clichy
MERTHYR TYDFIL
CF47 8XE
Duty Office: (01685) 724507
Community Mental Health Team Duty Office: (01685) 721671
Outside Office Hours/Emergency Number: (01443) 204010
Merthyr Tydfil Carers Strategy Network
89/90 High Street
MERTHYR TYDFIL
CF47 8UH
Telephone number (01685) 353900
Return to Top
If you are a young carer, more specialist information and support is available by contacting someone at the address below:
Contact Address
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Integrated Childrens service
Riverside Court
Avenue De Clichy
MERTHYR TYDFIL
CF47 8XE
Telephone number (01685) 724500
Barnardo’s Young Carers scheme
56 High Street
Pontmorlais
MERTHYR TYDFIL
CF47 8UN
Telephone number (01685) 382422
Return to Top
|