Carer Co-ordinator - South Eastern Trust

Carers Information You are a carer if you provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis to a family member, friend or neighbour who has any illness or disability or is frail due to being older; and who could not manage without your help. You could be: A young person under 18 looking after a parent/brother/sister; Looking after a relative with a mental illness or physical disability; The parent of a child with special needs; A friend or relative looking after an older person Carer's Support and Assessment Needs Carers who provide substantial support on a regular basis to a family member, friend or neighbour who has any illness, disability or is frail due to being older are eligible to have an assessment of their support needs as a carer. The carer assessment gives you an opportunity to talk about the support and care you provide; how this affects your physical and emotional health and family life; any concerns, worries or difficulties you have; and the supports you need to continue caring. For more detailed information see the Trust Carer Information Booklet. You can ring the appropriate team as listed in the booklet or you can complete the Trust Carer Assessment Referral form to request an assessment. Assessment of Carer Support Needs Our Aim South Eastern HSC Trust aims to recognise and value the work of carers. We will provide a separate assessment of your needs to support you in your caring role. Who is entitled: A carer is someone who regularly provides a substantial amount of care to a family member, friend or neighbour who is ill, disabled or is an older person. You could be: • A young person under 18 looking after a parent/brother/sister • Looking after a relative with a disability • The parent of a child with special needs • A friend or relative looking after an older person. You do not have to: • Live with the person. you care for • Be the only carer • Be related to the person you care for. You can also get an assessment of your needs if you are planning to care for someone in the near future, for example, if a relative is due to come home from hospital. The Assessment The carer assessment focuses on you as a carer. The purpose is: • To support the carers role and recognise the input you have into the life of the person you care for • To explore the amount of help or care given and look at the impact of this on you and the life of your family • To find out your support needs as a carer • To see if your support needs can be met by social services or others. Account will be taken of a carer’s circumstances, views, age, culture, general health and well being, and other available supports. The carer assessment provides an opportunity to find out what help might be available to support you in your caring role. The support might include: • Information for you as a carer • Training to help you in your caring role • Emotional support through support groups, alternative therapies, etc. • Practical support in the home • Breaks from caring • Financial support towards short break, pampering, leisure activity etc. Young carers Young Carers have not been recognised for the role they provide within the family and it is difficult to measure the actual contribution they make. Their caring activities are uncosted and should not be viewed as an appropriate mechanism for the delivery of care in the community. To respond to the needs of Young Carers there is a requirement not only to understand the demands of the caring role but also the direct impact it can have on the lives of those involved. The weight of caring responsibilities can prove to be so great that there is little opportunity to socialise with friends or join after-school clubs and youth groups. Even when this does occur, the Young Carer can have great difficulty forgetting the demands of caring home life. Caring by young people can have a major influence on life chances and future expectations. It can affect their self-perception; self esteem and the ability to take up opportunities that are available to their peers. It is therefore paramount that Young Carers views on their caring role are sought and that their personal needs are assessed separately from the needs of the person they care for. South Eastern HSC Trust is committed to providing support to people who have substantial care needs to minimise the level of caring required by young carers. Supports for Young Carers within South Eastern HSC Trust South Eastern HSC Trust is committed to providing support to people who have substantial care needs to minimise the level of caring required by young carers. In addition, support is provided to young carers through 2 schemes which provide a variety of supports to young carers based on their individual needs. These schemes are: Crossroads Young Carers Project and Action for Children Young Carers Project.