Carers
You may already be aware that we’ve been reviewing services for unpaid adult carers, to improve and develop services that will support and empower you for the future. The new carers service started 1 October 2019.
A key change in the new model will mean that all of the statutory carers’ assessments, reviews and support plans will be delivered by the Council and East London Foundation Trust (ELFT). Hackney and ELFT staff will also provide any required emergency planning.
To request a carers assessment, you can either contact our Information and Assessment team on 020 8356 6262 or email access@hackney.gov.uk.
In addition, Carers FIRST, which has over 20 years experience in delivering services to carers, has been commissioned to provide the prevention, early intervention and outreach service to carers. This includes:
- information, advice, guidance and signposting
- proactive outreach
- acting as the first point of contact for many carers and making referrals for statutory carers assessments if needed
peer support and carers groups; carers register; carers discount card - emergency planning
- events and training
- refer carers to the Council and ELFT for an assessment
For more information visit Carers FIRST. You can contact them for advice and assistance on 0300 303 1555 or email: hello@carersfirst.org.uk.
Carers are people of any age who look after a friend or relative who needs support because of:
- a physical or learning disability
- mental illness
- impaired health due to sickness or old age
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
Advice and support for adult carers who care for the elderly, children with special needs and adults with physical or learning disabilities.
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 eTurn2us 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 will be available soon.
Help and support for carers
Personalisation
‘Personalisation’ means making sure that everyone has access to the right information and advice to help them make decisions about care and support. Our guide to Personalisation explains the five main stages to getting the support you need giving you more choice and control regardless whether support is being funded by local authorities or is self-funded.
Supporting carers into work
If you’d like to combine caring with paid employment, Jobcentre Plus offer financial help and a range of training.
Their advisers can talk to you about training, part time work, voluntary work, job search, work trials, self employment, in-work financial help and more.
They can also give you a personalised ‘better off’ calculation so you can decide what your best option is.
They can also offer funding for replacement care and childcare costs for interviews and approved training courses. This support will not affect your benefits if you receive any and there’s no obligation to do anything else.
If you’d like to know more, contact your local Jobcentre to see an adviser:
- Dalston Jobcentre – 020 7200 6636
- Hoxton Jobcentre – 020 7749 7067
- Hackney Jobcentre – 020 8218 8242
Swim free in Hackney
Swimming is now available free for disabled people and carers at Britannia Leisure Centre, Clissold Leisure Centre, Kings Hall Leisure Centre and London Fields Lido.
Please note: carers can swim free independent of the person they are caring for. Proof of eligibility and Terms & Conditions apply. See free swimming for disabled people and carers .
Carers’ events
Mindfulness-based stress reduction sessions
Free weekly drop-in sessions teaching mindfulness-based stress reduction for carers looking after Hackney residents.
Every Tuesday, 11.30am-1pm, Breathing Space, the London Buddhist Centre, 51 Roman Road, Bethnal Green, E2 0HU. For more information contact Mattias Herbertson (Breathing Space Manager), on 020 8709 9985, Email mattias@lbc.org.uk or visit Breathing Space.