Many carers do not think of themselves as carers, many don’t ask for support, or even realise that it’s available. Many carers just continue on until a crisis occurs. While not everyone needs continual support with caring we have found that the earlier people come forward for information about all the different types of help available, the better prepared they feel to keep going, and the less likely they are to reach a crisis point.
How can Carers Link help you?
The 21st Century Social Work Review recommends that carers should:
- be recognised as active partners and care providers, able to influence how services are designed, planned and delivered;
- be able to choose how much involvement they have in providing care; and
- be able to have a wider life outside their caring role.
This is what Carers Link supports carers to do. We focus on the carer, and work with them to achieve the best quality of life through a balance between caring and a life of their own. We offer a variety of services to carers, ranging from completing an Adult Carer Support Plan or Young Carer Statement, through group and one-to-one support, to advocacy. You can find out more about the range of support we offer on our What we do pages.
There may be times when a carer – or the person they care for – is resistant to accepting Social Work services. Carers Link staff have experience of mediating between the carer and Social Work to ensure that best outcomes are achieved and potential risks minimised.
We are very happy to give talks or presentations to local organisations, community groups or businesses wishing to provide their staff with access to a better understanding about how a caring role can affect their family, friends, neighbours and colleagues – and what they can do to be supportive. If you would like someone to come and give a talk to your group or organisation, you can call us on 0800 975 2131 or complete our online enquiry form.
If you want to refer someone
Enquiries and referrals are welcome from members of the public and from organisations, whether statutory, health or voluntary sector. Ideally, anyone with a caring role who becomes known to Social Work should be made aware of Carers Link support and given information about their right to an Adult Carer Support Plan and Young Carer Statement.
We can take referrals over the telephone or by email, or you can complete the online referral form for adults or children and young people. As a minimum we need the name, address and contact telephone number of the carer. Further information about them and their caring situation, and any known health and safety concerns, access needs or communication issues would also be appreciated
Please ensure that you have the carer’s permission to pass their contact details and other information to Carers Link.