Are you a carer? If so, please ask our receptionist for a carer’s identification pack
After you have completed this, we will be able to assist you in meeting any needs you may have by directing you to the appropriate services.
If you are under 18 and spend a lot of time looking after someone in your family who has a physical disability, ill health or misuses substances, there are services in Walsall to help you. Through this service you can meet other young people who care too. This is run by Walsall Council and they can offer individual guidance and support.
Phone or text 07833 444167.
There is a carer’s emergency response scheme in Walsall.
To find out more about this service phone the Freephone dedicated emergency response line on 0800 148 8920
Your Carer’s centre is at:
The First Floor, the Crossing, St Pauls, Walsall.
Monday – Friday 9am-4pm (excluding Bank Holidays).
Helpline: 01922 636663 or 638849
Email: info@walsallcarersorg Web:www.walsallcarers.org
If you are a carer you will be entitled to:-
● Home visits and/or telephone appointments if caring responsibilities mean you cannot leave the person you care for at home or bring them with you to the surgery.
● Flexibility or priority on appointment times where possible.
● Support for the person you care for in the waiting room or a private area if you need to bring them to the surgery but would like an appointment in private.
● Information about local carers support services which may be able to arrange transport and/or sitting services to help you leave home to attend surgery.
● Telephone ordering for prescriptions where possible.
● An annual health check and a flu jab.
● Information about your right to a Carers’ Assessment of your own needs as a carer.
● Advice on safer lifting and other aspects of providing care such as medication.
● Discussing with you what you would like us to do in the event of you or the person you care for having a medical or other emergency.
In some cases caring roles are full time and very demanding. We would like to support you in your caring role where we can. .
Caring should not be at the expense of your own health and wellbeing. Please tell us how your caring role is affecting you and if you have any support needs.
We will try to help you by:
● Respecting your privacy and confidentiality and conducting conversations of a personal nature in private.
● Discussing the benefits of appropriate information sharing with patients who need or may in future need care from a relative or friend.
● Providing you with information about the condition and needs of the person you care for, such as the effects of medication, where that person gives consent.
● Always listening to and respecting the information you give us about your caring role and the needs of the person you care for.
● Providing you with general information about health conditions when you ask for it when we do not have consent from the person you care for to share their personal
information.
You may be entitle to:-
● someone to take over caring so you can take a break
● help with gardening and housework
● training how to lift safely
● putting you in touch with local support groups so you have people to talk to
● advice about benefits for carers
A carer’s assessment is free and anyone over 18 can ask for one.
It’s separate from the needs assessment the person you care for might have, but you can ask to have them both done at the same time.
How to tell if you’re a carer:
You’re a carer if you’re looking after someone regularly because they’re ill, elderly or disabled
including family members.
Carers help with:
● washing, dressing or taking medicines
● getting out and about and travelling to doctors’ appointments
● shopping, cleaning and laundry
● paying bills and organising finances
They can also give emotional support by:
● sitting with someone to keep them company
● watching over someone if they can’t be left alone
All of these count as being a carer.
What happens in the carer’s assessment?
Someone from the council, or an organisation the council works with, will ask how you’re coping with caring. This includes how it affects your physical and mental health, work, free time and
relationships. The assessment is usually face to face. Some councils can do it over the phone or online. Assessments usually last at least an hour.
How to prepare for your carer’s assessment
You’ll need:
● your NHS number (if you have one)
● your GP’s name, address and phone number
● contact details of anyone who’s coming to the assessment with you
● the name, address, date of birth and NHS number of the person you care for (if you have it)
● your email address
Give as much detail as you can about the impact caring for someone is having on your life.
This will help make sure you get all the help and support you need.
Which? Later Life Care has a checklist of questions to help you prepare for a carer’s assessment, regardless of your age.
Have someone with you:
It can help if you have someone with you during the assessment. This could be the person
you care for, a friend or relative. You could also use an advocate. Advocates are people who speak up on your behalf. They can help you fill in forms and sit with you in meetings and assessments. They’re often free. Find an advocate in your area
Telephone help
If you want to talk to someone about carer’s assessments, call:
● your local council’s adult social services department
● Carers Direct’s free helpline on 0300 123 1053
● Age UK’s free helpline on 0800 055 6112
● Independent Age’s free helpline on 0800 319 6789
● Contact a Family’s free helpline on 0808 808 3555
Getting the results
You’ll usually get the results of the assessment within a week.
If you qualify for help from the council, they’ll write a care and support plan with you that sets out how they can help.
Help with costs
Your council might be able to help with the costs. You might need a financial assessment (means test) first. This will be arranged for you after the carer’s assessment. You might also qualify for benefits for carers that can help with costs. If you don’t qualify for help from your council. If you’re told you don’t qualify for help and support, your council should give you free advice about where you can get help in your community. Ask if this doesn’t happen.
How to complain about a carer’s assessment
If you disagree with the results of your carer’s assessment or how it was done, you can complain.
First complain to your local council. Your council should have a formal complaints procedure on its website. You should also be told about how to complain at your assessment.
If you’re not happy with the way the council handles your complaint, you can take it to the local government and social care ombudsman. An ombudsman is an independent person who’s been appointed to look into complaints about organisations.