Carers
Carers are people of any age who look after a friend or relative who needs support because of:
- a physical or learning disability
- mental health problems or illness
- impaired health due to sickness or old age
- substance misuse or addiction
Someone who is paid to undertake their caring role is not a carer, although some carers may be in receipt of carers allowance or in full time employment. Many carers give up work or reduce their hours of work to care and others in work report an impact of their own physical and emotional health. These services are designed to help you and support you in your everyday life.
Adult carers
There is advice and support available for adult carers who care for:
- older people
- children with special needs
- adults with physical or learning disabilities
- adults with mental health problems or illness
- adults with impaired physical health
- adults with an addiction
Hackney Adult Carers Strategy for 2024 to 2027
The Hackney Adult Carers Strategy for 2024 to 2027 outlines what key local organisations are doing over the next 3 years to support Hackney’s adult carers.
Most carers in Hackney are unpaid friends or family members, rather than professional carers. Because there is less support for unpaid carers, it is important for us to plan for their wellbeing.
We know that many carers do not access support and often feel like their voices are not heard. Because of this, we made sure that we worked closely with carers to develop our strategy.
No single plan can answer all the needs that carers in Hackney will have. So we will continue to improve and update the strategy. We will also share regular updates and ask for regular feedback about our progress.
To find out what we heard from carers and see our commitments for the future, view the Hackney Adult Carers Strategy 2024 to 2027: full strategy (google doc).
For a guide to the strategy and a summary of our key commitments, view Hackney Adult Carers Strategy 2024 to 2027: the basics (google doc).
We will publish our action plan after the launch of the strategy. This plan will provide:
- more detail on our actions
- a plan of how we will deliver the commitments outlined in the strategy
Parent carers
There’s a range of advice, support and information for parent carers on family rights, grants, education issues, breaks and much more.
Young carers
Recreational respite, advocacy, a befriending service and therapeutic support to young carers who have caring responsibilities for a relative with a long-term illness or disability.
Respite breaks for carers of adults
If you care for a friend or relative who is an older person, or has a learning or physical disability or suffers a mental health problem, you may be able to access respite care services.
Advocacy and advice for carers
Provision of advice, counselling and support for those who care for adults or children with special needs. Advocacy on behalf of carers may include raising awareness of carers issues and helping to keep them on the agenda of all relevant agencies, setting out key values and principles for services to carers in the form of a local Carers Charter and improving the quality and increasing the availability of information to carers.
Where you can get help
A range of voluntary sector organisations provide advocacy and advice for carers including
Financial support for carers
- information on benefits for carers at gov.uk
- use the benefits checker at Turn2us to see what benefits you could claim
Carer’s assessment
If you provide regular and substantial care for someone, you can have a carer’s assessment to discuss the help you need.
Hackney carer’s card
Carers, aged 18 or over, who provide care for a Hackney resident, of any age, can apply for a Hackney carer’s card. Carers will be able to receive discounts on goods in some Hackney retailers and also leisure centres and alternative therapists. Further details on the card and how to apply can be found on the Carers First website.
Help and support for carers
Contact Carers First via telephone on 0300 303 1555 to find out about help and support.
You can also Find Support Services that may be suitable for you.
Health and social care complaints charter
In 2019 we joined our partners in Healthwatch Hackney and the NHS to launch a health and social care complaints charter for our residents. Find out more:
Carers partnership board
The carers partnership board was set up in response to national strategies, to make sure carers can access the support and services they need to help them stay in their caring role for as long as they wish. The board provides an opportunity for unpaid carers to work with senior managers across Adult Social Services and partner organisations.
The purpose of the board is to:
- discuss and address issues of importance to carers in Hackney
- raise awareness and improve understanding of the role carers play in supporting other people
- exchange ideas, strengthen skills and share examples of good practice in developing support and services, to
- help carers stay in their caring role for longer
- oversee the Hackney Carers Strategy being carried out and provide scrutiny
Get involved
The board meets every 3 months for 2 hours. You’ll receive agendas and minutes in electronic or hard copy before the meeting.
For any carers that join the meetings, we offer gift vouchers as recognition for their commitment and time.
Join – partners and carer support organisations
Carers
You can contact the board on: 0208 356 7148 or carerspartnership@hackney.gov.uk
Carers’ forums
Carers’ forums are open to all informal and unpaid carers for information and guidance, and offer the chance to:
- share and raise concerns
- raise awareness of issues and concerns experienced by carers
- highlight the importance of their caring role
The forums take place every 2 months. Our administration support staff help us organise and run them and make sure reports and minutes are written and acted upon accordingly.
We will also offer gift vouchers as a reward for your commitment and time.
Each forum aims to find local solutions for issues and concerns raised by carers at each meeting. The carers partnership board considers issues and concerns, to find and escalate solutions as needed.