Carers Direct

Are You a Carer?

If you are please let us know – we may be able to help you.

Support For Carers Leicestershire provides information on a range of services throughout the county to assist carers in their role.  The service is being run by Voluntary Action South Leicestershire, a community based organisation with a long history of supporting carers, including a dedicated telephone advice line and an online directory of local services for carers such as Carers Support Groups. Contact them on 0845 689 9510 or visit their website.

www.supportforcarers.org/

Alternatively contact national Carers Direct.

Carers Consent Form

First Contact Plus

If you require access to services to support carers  the Support for Carers Service which is provided by Voluntary Action South Leicestershire (VASL) can be accessed either through First Contact Plus (0116 305 4286 or by visiting http://www.firstcontactplus.org.uk)

It can also be accessed by contacting VASL directly on  01858 433232, Fax  01858 410047  or by emailing:  admin@vasl.org.uk  http://vasl.org.uk/our-projects/support-for-carers

The service aims to inform and support carers in all communities throughout Leicestershire, to improve carers’ quality of life, promote their health and well-being and to encourage them to make real choices about their lives.

The service includes:

• a dedicated telephone advice line (calls charged at local rates) so carers can talk to experienced professionals in confidence about any aspect of being a carer,
• carers’ support groups around the county,
• a telephone befriending service specifically for carers, a website full of news and information, a quarterly newsletter and an online directory of local services for carers.

If carers’ needs can’t be met through this service then they have the right to an assessment which will determine eligibility for a carers personal budget which they could use in a number of ways, including respite provision.

Carers Direct    

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

• Caring for a parent

  Watch this video on: caring for a parent at home

• 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

Help 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