Helping carers to continue caring and have a life of their own
Carers provide regular and substantial unpaid care by looking after an ill, frail or disabled family member, friend or partner (Carers' UK). The term 'carer' should not be confused with a paid care worker or care assistant, who receives a wage for looking after someone.
There are nearly 6m carers in the UK; approximately one person in every eight. And every day another 6,000 people take on a caring responsibility - in North Lincolnshire there are nearly 16,000 carers (Census 2001), which is over 10 per cent of the total population.
Caring for someone can be a rewarding experience, however, it can also be emotionally stressful and physically exhausting. As a carer you are entitled to discuss your needs with us. We can then plan the best way to support you.
Family Carers Team
The Family Carers team have a role within Adult Social Services which is to provide carers with an assessment of their needs and to commission services to support the carer in their role, ensuring they have a life of their own. Support for carers is personalised to their needs. Support services that may be available to carers include:
- information and advice
- listening ear
- lifelong learning
- caring with confidence
- training
- carer groups
- carer case leaders
- carers individual - one off payment (eligibility criteria needs to be met)
- emergency planning - enables carers to plan for emergency situations, such as, if the service user was taken ill or involved in an accident
For further information or support the team can be contacted on 01724 298378, 298271,298301 or email familycarerteam@northlincs.gov.uk.
The Carers Advisory Group have their own website. It is for any adult living in North Lincolnshire who provides unpaid care for an adult who is elderley, disabled or ill. It is also for anyone receiving carers allowance.
Please call 01724 297979 or one of the numbers below to arrange a visit:
- Apna Sahara Advice Centre (support for black and minority ethnic communities) tel: 01724 330073
- Carers Support Centre (including social groups, support, benefits, welfare rights) tel: 01652 650585.
- NCH Kaleidoscope (for parents and children with physical and learning disabilities) tel: 01724 277766
- NCH Young Carers (for children and young people caring for family members) tel: 01724 277766
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NHS Direct (for medical advice) tel: 08454647
- Rethink (mental health) Carers Support tel: 01724 852707
- Adult Social Care Services (North Lincolnshire Council) tel: 01724 297979 and extended hours service 01724 296555
Emergency Plan
Carers often wonder what would happen to them if you were taken ill or involved in an accident. The Emergency Plan scheme provides carers with peace of mind and reassurance that the emergency plan that they have completed will be put into action.
A carers emergency plan provides information about the person they care for. This information is held on a secure database. The plan records relevant details that may be required in a crisis. For instance, names and telephone numbers of people who can be contacted in an emergency, names of people who hold keys to the property.
The scheme is operated by North Lincolnshire Council 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is available to any carer who looks afer an adult who is elderly, frail or has a disability.
Information and support for carers of people with dementia
