Do you look after someone?
Do you provide help and support to a partner, relative, child friend or neighbour who could not manage without your help due to physical or mental illness, disability, frailty or addiction? If you do, that means you may be a carer.
Children and young people, parents, daughters, sons, spouses, partners and friends can all be carers.
By registering that you are a Carer with the practice, we can give you support, provide you with information about organisations that may be able to help you and let you know about any new services that become available. It is quick and easy to register:-
What to do now:
1. Tell us you are a Carer
Complete the online form here or print and complete the attached form and hand it to one of our receptionists.
Carers Identification and Consent Form
Carers Practice Leaflet
2. Care Direct (Social Services Bristol)
Contact Care Direct to arrange an assessment for the person you care for, including their physical care requirements, aids around the home, personal alarms, meals on wheels and benefits advice. Care Direct can also arrange a Carers Assessment for additional benefits you may be eligible for as a registered carer. Respite care and sitter services can also be arranged.
Tel: 0117 922 2700
https://www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/social-care-and-health/adults-and-older-people/care-and-support-for-adults-in-bristol
Adult.care@bristol.gov.uk
3. Carers Support Centre
This is a charitable organisation providing additional help and support for all aspects of your Carer responsibilites and for the person you care for. This includes help filiing in paperwork, arranging respite care, support groups, counselling and advocacy.
Tel: 0117 965 2200
http://www.carerssupportcentre.org.uk/
4. Get an Emergency Carers Card
The Carers Emergency Card identifies you as a carer and should be carried at all times. If you are taken seriously ill or you have an accident, anybody who finds you can ring the number of the card and tell the Emergency Communications Team that the person you care for needs help. This team can then provide up to 72 hours of care for that person in their own home. The card does not contain any personal information, only emergency contact number and your carer ID number.
http://www.carerssupportcentre.org.uk/our-services/carers-emergency-card/
5. Consider telling your employer and other friends and family about your Carer role
You are legally entitled to request flexible working hours as a carer. Telling your employer allows you to access this and other additional support. Telling friends, family or healthcare professionals can often be a helpful way to share some of the strain that can come with being a carer and ensure your own health needs are met.
COVID 19 - Unpaid Carers
The vaccination programme is now vaccinating people with underlying health conditions and unpaid carers. Unpaid carers are defined as those who are eligible for a carer’s allowance, or those who are the sole or main carer of an elderly or disabled person who is at increased risk of COVID-19 mortality and therefore clinically vulnerable. To be eligible, carers must deliver personal care to the individual at risk. This does not include for example, shopping or cleaning.
If you are already registered as a carer with either your GP or the local authority or you are eligible for carers allowance you do not have to do anything. You will be invited for a vaccination either by your GP or through the COVID-19 Vaccination National Booking Service. Please wait until you are called directly.
Please do not be concerned if you are invited for vaccination more than once. For example, if you are registered as a carer with your GP and you receive carer’s allowance, you may receive 2 invitations. Please only book one appointment.
If you are not registered with any of these bodies or you do not receive carers allowance then you will also have the opportunity to be vaccinated. A national system is being developed which will enable you to self identify as a carer and book a vaccination. Further information on this system will be available in the coming weeks but in the meantime it is very important that you do not contact your GP or local authority directly to request a vaccination. Carers looking for additional support should contact the relevant Carers Support Organisation. They can be contacted via info@carerssupportcentre.org.uk and 0117 965 2200 for Bristol and South Gloucestershire or carersupport@alliancehomes.org.uk 03000 120 120, option 3 for North Somerset.
We will be prioritising vaccination based on risk and therefore those with underlying health conditions or on the shielded patient list (clinically extremely vulnerable) will be vaccinated as a priority. Please do not be concerned if you are not contacted immediately for vaccination or have to wait a short while to book an appointment. We remain committed to vaccinating everyone who is eligible in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire as soon as possible.
If you are a young carer you can get advice on-line from the Carers Support Service's Young carers website: www.carerssupportcentre.org.uk/young-carers/ or Tel: 0117 922 2000
Young Carer Practice Leaflet
There is a wealth of information on NHS Choices about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.
HELP FROM SOCIAL SERVICES & CHARITIES
CARERS' BREAKS AND RESPITE CARE
CARE HOMES
MONEY, WORK AND BENEFITS