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.
For information about carers allowances look at the Benefits page.
Carers UK
This is the voice of carers, it highlights the true value of carers' contribution to society.
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.
Young carers at direct gov
This site offers information that young carers may find helpful.
YCnet
This is an online community of young carers providing a discussion forum or offering advice from our qualified youth workers.
Young Carers
Nationally there are estimated to be approximately 51,000 young carers offering substantial and regular care to a disabled adult. It is thought there may be many more young people whose lives are affected because they have caring responsibilities.
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.
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 following Help the Aged leaflets give carers advice on getting financial support or time off.
Carers and work
- three out of five people become carers at some stage in their lives. Many become carers while still holding down a full-time job. This information explains the rights of employees with caring responsibilities and options which might be available. It outlines the support entitlements for those both in and out of employment.
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.
Information that may be of assistance:
Benefits Advice 0800 882200
Carers UK 0808 8087777
Princess Royal Trust for Carers 0844 800 4361
Voluntary Organisations specifically supporting Carers living in Essex
Essex Carers Support 01255 474410
Maldon Carers (covering mid Essex)
maldoncarers@tiscali.co.uk 01621 851640
Epping Forest Carer Support
l.norton@vaef.org.uk 01992 564178
Harlow Caring for Carers
Fiona-langridge@harlowcarers.org.uk 01279 308314
Uttlesford Carers (Carers UK)
01371 875810
The Salvation Army (Covering South Essex)
01245 383000
Crossroads schemes in Essex - giving carers a break from their caring responsibilities:
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
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.
New service for carers on NHS Choices website
Carers Direct has 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.
Visit the Carers Direct website
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 appears on the home page of the NHS website and provides carers with a single, comprehensive resource for all carer specific and relevant information together with advice and information on:
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The different stages of caring
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Contact details for local authority adult services and voluntary support groups
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Looking after people with specific long term conditions
Carers Hub page is also accessible for those requiring support and advice.
