NHS Carers Direct

Are You a Carer?

If you are, please let us know as we may be able to help you. Mandy Clarke is our Reception Carers Champion and would love to hear from you. You can also visit our Carers in the Community page to find out how the Spinney supports carers in the St Ives area.

There is a wealth of information on NHS Choices about carers and caring and below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.

• Caring for a parent

  Visit here for helpful and practical information about caring for an elderly parent

• Telling people

  Caring responsibilities can make it difficult to maintain friendships or develop new ones. Telling your friends you’re a carer is important so they understand and can support you.

• Taking a break

  Caring for someone can be a full-time job, but it’s essential that you take time out for yourself too. Read our guide to accessing breaks and respite.

• Housing and carers

  Do you know your tenancy rights as a carer? Are you aware of all your care at home options? Do you need tips on moving someone around the home?

Finance and Law

Please see the below information for help about claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring:

• Benefits for carers

  Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role

• Benefits for the person you care for

  Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to

• Death and benefits

  How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits

• Managing someone’s legal affairs

  Advice for when carers find they have to take over the legal affairs of the person they are looking after

• Other benefits

  Advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring

• Personal and household finance

  Advice on keeping a tight rein on household and personal finance for carers

• Social fund & Tax credits

  Information on claiming tax credits and whether you might be eligible

Making family carers aware of their rights

Many families struggle to navigate the maze of services and entitlements, and miss-out on financial and practical support. Last year, NHS Carers Direct supported over 11,000 family carers and those with care needs by providing information, advice and support, peer support and homecare.

Letting family carers know where to get help and support

In the Cambridgeshire area, Caring Together champion family carers’ rights every day of the year and want every family carer to know where to turn for advice, information and support, whether in their local community or online. Family carers can be referred for information and support by phoning our Family Carer Helpline or via a Family Carers’ Prescription referral through their GP surgery.

The Caring Together Family Carers Helpline Team is ready to listen to find out what matters to each carer. They provide tailored information and advice anytime between 9am-5pm Monday-Friday on 01480 499090.

They also encourage family carers to visit their website which is packed with information including an new online directory of carer resources. Caring Together have also teamed up with Carers UK and Cambridgeshire County Council to give carers in Cambridgeshire access to a wide range of digital tools and essential resources that may help make their caring situation easier.

They provide local support through our network of Family Carers Hubs which run monthly from local community venues. Delivered in partnership with other independent and statutory organisations, they offer a rotating programme of health and well being sessions across the Hubs focusing on issues that matter to family carers like Back Care, Falls Prevention, Medication Management, Continence Care and resilience for family carers. The Hubs are for family carers, the people they support and their families and friends. Short breaks are available across all of the Hubs providing activities and support from CQC registered Care staff so that family carers can have time to relax, chat with other carers and access the help and support they need

Contact NHS Carers Direct

Telephone	0808 802 0202
Helpline Information	Visit their website here
Email	CarersDirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk
Office Hours	Lines are open 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls are free from UK landlines.