Carers

Carers In Bristol

In Bristol there is a Joint Carers Strategy in place, which is for NHS Bristol,
Bristol City Council Health and Social Care and the Children and Young
People’s Service and is supported by the Voluntary Sector.

This strategy is for all carers, and therefore includes adult carers of adults, parent carers and young carers.  For more details, see the Bristol Local Action Plan for Carers 2011-2012.

In the NHS Bristol area, 35,123 people identified themselves as carers in the 2001 census; 7,840 of these carers provided 50 or more hours of care each week and another 3,640 carers provided 20 hours or more of care each week.

Do you look after someone who couldn’t cope without you? If so you may be a carer.

It may be that you provide substantial and regular care to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without your help.  If so you may be termed a 'carer' and could be an adult caring for a relative with dementia, a young carer who cares for a parent or sibling, or a parent carer of a disabled child.  In all cases there are support organisations and help that you can access.

The type of caring you undertake may vary in nature and in amount.  Carers can be all ages, genders and from diverse backgrounds and so the support you require needs to reflect this.

A carer can be in receipt of Carers Allowance or a direct payment for a service that helps them to manage and continue caring without this affecting their status as a carer.

A young carer is anyone under 18, whose life is in some way restricted because of the need to take responsibility for the care of someone who is ill, has a disability, is experiencing mental distress or is affected by substance misuse.

A parent carer is a parent of a disabled child providing substantial and regular care beyond what is usually expected for a similarly aged child.  When a disabled young person reaches age 19, the parent carer does not stop being a parent, but in legal and policy terms is considered to be the carer of an adult.

Explicitly excluded from the definition of the word ‘carer’ are people who are employed to provide care, e.g. district nurses, nursing assistants, home care staff and people who work unpaid for a voluntary organisation. Carers receiving ‘Carers Allowance’ or a direct payment for a service to support them in their caring role remain within the above definition of ‘carer’.

Carers will be of all ages and situations;  you may balance your caring role with work, training and child care; or care for someone who does not live in the same house and may travel some distance e.g. across the city, to care.

In GP Practices

As a carer, it is essential that you talk to your GP and let them know that you care for someone else.  It is important that you can talk to your doctor about your own health needs as caring can be emotionally and physically demanding. 

Feelings of resentment and guilt are common as is a sense of loneliness and loss of any life of your own. If you  experience any difficulties as a result of caring it is important that your GP knows as they will  able to provide you with advice and information about the support that is available to carers in Bristol.

There is a factsheet available for carers and GPs here.

In Hospitals

When someone you care for is in hospital it can be a very worrying and stressful time.  When you're looking after someone it may be important that you share information with staff and that they recognise your role, value and seen you as a partner in care during a hospital visit.

You know a lot about the person you care for and it may be that you often act as a patient advocate in hospital and want to get information about the person you care for.
 
By law we have a duty to protect an individual’s confidentiality. If you want information about the person you care for then staff may seek the patients’ approval first.  You may also talk with staff and the person you care for to let them know that information can be shared with you as a carer.

If the person you care for lacks capacity then staff may apply The Mental Capacity Act.

If you are a carer of someone with dementia, please ask staff for a ‘This is me’ leaflet.  'This is Me' is a simple and practical tool for people going into hospital and their carers.

It provides a 'snapshot' of the person with dementia and gives hospital staff information about them as an individual, including the patients likes, dislikes and interests.

If you care for someone with a learning difficulty you may be able to receive support from the Learning Difficulty Nurses. They will be able to offer you and the person you care for support and advice before and during their stay in hospital.  They can help them get the care they need in the way they need it.

It is important to talk to staff as early as possible if you are or might become a carer.  As a carer you can help staff with information, and staff can work out what support you might need in your caring role, as well as the support the patient needs on discharge.

Both NHS hospital trusts in Bristol are building a Carers Charter which outlines their commitments to carers within Bristol Hospitals, more information about this charter can be seen by visiting: http://www.nbt.nhs.uk/patients__carers/visitors__carers/carers_information.aspx or
http://www.uhbristol.nhs.uk/patients-visitors-and-carers/carers

Carers assessments

Carers have a legal right to an assessment of their own needs.  It is a chance for you to discuss with with the social services department of your local authority what help you may need with caring.  During an assessment, you can discuss any help that would maintain your own health and balance caring with other aspects of your life, such as work and family. 

An assessment is a gateway to support, information and advice. It may identify the need for more help for the cared for person or the need for regular breaks for you as a carer.

Carers have a right to a have a separate assessment in the following situations:
• Where the carers is providing regular and substantial care to someone who could not cope without them
• As part of the process of assessment when a patient is being discharged from hospital
• When a carer is looking after someone with mental health problems
• As a parent carer of a disabled child under 18 - In this case, you have a right to a separate assessment of your own if the assessment for the child under the Children Act does not fully take account of your needs.

How to get a Carer Assessment:

• Carers may want to self assess by visiting: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/health-and-social-care/carers/
• Carers can also contact Bristol City Council about an assessment by telephone on 0117 922 2700 or email adult.care@bristol.gov.uk, alternatively you can get an assessment through your local carers centre by calling 0117 939 2562.
• For further information about Carers assessments please visit Carers Direct. 

Carers Emergency cards

The Carers Emergency Card is a card for carers that they carry at all times.  In the event that you are involved in a crisis that prevents you from caring, Emergency Services will react to ensure the 'cared for' person continues to receive the care they need.

The administration of the cards in South Gloucestershire is done by The Carers’ Support Centre. The administration of the cards in Bristol is done by the council’s Care Direct team. Although the cards look different, the response to an emergency situation is the same.

To apply for a Bristol card (person cared for pays council tax to Bristol City Council) call Bristol City Council’s Care Direct on 0117 922 2700.

To apply for a South Gloucestershire card (person cared for pays council tax to South Gloucestershire County Council) call The Carers’ Support Centre CarersLine on 0117 965 2200 or email carersline@carerssupportcentre.org.uk

Support for Carers

Carers Direct offers free, confidential information and advice for carers.  They can be contacted on 0808 802 0202 and lines are open from 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, and 11am to 4pm at weekends.  Carers can also ask for a call back in more than 170 languages.

Further links and contact telephone numbers can be found in the box to the right.