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Support for carers – do you look after someone who could not manage without you?
If you wish to arrange part or all of your own care and support and your local council is contributing towards the cost of your eligible support needs, you can receive its contribution through a Direct Payment. However, Direct Payments cannot currently be used to pay for residential or nursing care.
With your Direct Payment, you can:
• employ a care worker or personal assistant(s);
• pay the care agency you choose to provide your care worker or personal assistant; • buy equipment or pay for activities agreed in your support plan.
Direct Payments are available to all eligible adults, including people with a physical or sensory disability, older people, people with a learning disability and people with mental health needs.
For more information on paying for care, see page 46.
If you look after someone on a regular basis, i.e. a parent, child, friend, neighbour or partner, in an unpaid capacity, you are a carer. You may not describe yourself as such, it’s just what you do, but without your support, the person would not be able to manage their daily life. Looking after someone can be a positive experience but it can also be an isolating, challenging and exhausting role, both physically and mentally. Carers may find they have little or no time for themselves or to look after their own health and wellbeing.
All carers are entitled to an assessment of their needs by the local council’s Adult Social Care department, which will help to identify support they can access. This assessment will provide an opportunity for the carer to discuss their role and identify services which they may qualify for. It may be possible for the person being cared for to have a short stay in an alternate setting – this is called respite care and will enable the carer to take a break from their responsibilities.
It may also be possible for the person being cared for to access day opportunities outside the home, again offering the carer a short break during the day; or the carer might just need someone to stay whilst they go out, having peace of mind that the person being cared for is safe. The assessment is free but there may be a charge for some of the services which are available.
If a carer is eligible for support after the assessment, a support plan will be drafted. The support plan will take into account the carer’s financial means, and any help available to meet the costs of the support will be identified.
Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire If you care for someone living in Bedford Borough or Central Bedfordshire, contact Carers in Bedfordshire on 0300 111 1919, email contact@carersinbeds.org.uk or visit
www.carersinbeds.org.uk
Luton
If you care for someone living in Luton, contact Carers Central, Luton Borough Council’s contracted carers’ service. Call 0300 303 0201, email carerscentral@drcbeds.org.uk or visit www.carerscentral.org.uk for more information.
