Are you a carer?
Do you look after, help or support someone who wouldn't be able to manage everyday life without your help?
You may have been a carer for some time or you might have started caring more recently. Either way it is likely that you are caring out of love, friendship or duty.
We want to support and value our carers in the community. Please read below for more information
Who is a carer?
The Care Act 2014 defines a carer as ‘an adult who provides or intends to provide care for another adult.’ This is unpaid and doesn’t include caring as part of a contract or as voluntary work for an organisation.
This is different to a paid carer who is employed by social care services to provide support to people in their homes. This can be known as homecare, domiciliary care or home help.
A carer may care for:
- an older person,
- someone who is disabled,
- has a long-term illness,
- mental health problems or is affected by alcohol or drug misuse.
They may be parents, spouses, grandparents, children, siblings, partners, friends or neighbours. Carers can be any age, from children to older people, and from every community and culture. Carers can be adults supporting adults; young carer caring for an adult or another young person; or can be a carer of a child with disability whether the carer is a parent or not. Some carers care intensively or are life-long carers. Others care for shorter periods. Some carers may be disabled or have care needs themselves. The carer does not need to be living with the cared-for person to be a carer. Anybody can become a carer at any time, sometimes for more than one person.
Carers Assessment
As a carer you are entitled to a carers assessment even if the person you are caring for doesn't receive council funded support.
A carer's assessment acknowledges your role as a carer and reviews your current support network, such as family an friends and considers:
- Goals and needs outside of your caring responsibilities
- The impact caring has on your ability to pursue these
- How it affects your overall wellbeing
The assessment is to support you in your caring role if that is your choice, benefitting both you and the person you care for. If you are feeling unable to continue the assessment can help identify alternative options for you or the person you care for.
Our Adult Social Care team is available in office hours to offer information and advice and signposting and can be contacted on asc@scilly.gov.uk and 01720 424470.
The team can also provide information on the following:
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- Respite options and carers breaks available.
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- Regular support group meetings
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- Carer assessments – Carers assessments are offered under the guidance of the Care Act 2014 , carers can be assessed for eligibility if their needs arise from providing care for another person. The identified needs that arise from this care provided by carers, identifying eligible needs will lead to a Carers Support Plan. The Carers plan will look at how to meet these needs, cares will be actively involved in the development of this plan. There will be annual reviews to ensure that the evolving needs of the carer continues to be met. (The maximum yearly amount is £500 and is not means tested. The total yearly amount provided will be dependent on the identified eligible needs). The overall aim of the Carers Plan is for carers to access the necessary support for their needs, reduce stress and strain, and support them in continuing their caring role for their family member.
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- Direct payments
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- Equipment and Aides such as lifelines etc.
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- Carers cards to ensure that if anything happens to the carer that health or care professionals are alerted and can make sure the person cared for is looked after.