Carers’ breaks

What happens next?

CMN will carry out a carers' assessment with you. The process is proportional to your situation – it might be a short conversation or lead to regular check-ins to see how the support you receive is working.

Your carers' assessment will establish what support you need. This might include:

• Putting you in touch with local support groups so you have people to talk to.

• Practical support, like arranging for someone to step in when you need a short break.

• Supporting your mental health through counselling, peer-to-peer sessions or training.

• Resources to support your health and wellbeing needs.

• Being directed to the online Norfolk Community

Directory for listings of care services.

• A Health and Wellbeing Grant to spend on the things that make caring easier.

• A referral to Norfolk County Council. This will look at your long-term wellbeing as a carer and potential support for the person you care for.

You can choose to be assessed on your own or you can have someone there to support you. Support can also be arranged if you don’t have someone.

After your assessment, CMN will talk to you about whether you need any additional support and whether you qualify for any help from the service.

It may be that the best way to meet your needs is to provide care and support directly to the person whom you care for. For example, by providing replacement care to enable you to take a break. This is possible, provided the person needing care agrees. It would also require them to have a Care Act assessment completed by Norfolk County Council.

Will I have to pay for services?

Norfolk County Council’s current policy is that we provide services to carers which are not subject to charging. Therefore, no financial assessment is required for services provided directly to carers.

Services to the person a carer supports are chargeable, and a financial assessment will be conducted with them to work out how much they will pay and how much we’ll pay.

Carers assessed by Norfolk County Council, who receive a Personal Budget, will be offered a Direct Payment which will give them control over how their support is provided.

If you would like a carers' assessment, visit: www.carersmatternorfolk.org.uk or call: 0800 0831148.

Have a combined assessment with the person you care for

You can have an assessment in your own right. You can also have a combined assessment with the person you are caring for, provided you both agree.

Norfolk County Council carries out combined assessments. However, you can still get advice and support from CMN.

If you want to talk to Norfolk County Council about support for you and the person you care for, complete the carer's support needs form: https://adultsocialcare.norfolk.gov.uk (select 'carer's support needs' and complete the form).

Carers’ breaks refer to all activities or practical support designed for you as a carer. This could include attending a craft group, swimming or even just having time for a coffee with friends. Short breaks are accessed through CMN. You are entitled to a carers' assessment (www.norfolk.gov.uk/carers ) to establish if you are eligible for monetary support from us or whether you will be signposted to community and voluntary services instead. Any services you receive from us