Caring for someone
Many people provide essential help and support for relatives, neighbours or friends. Apart from state benefits, often the care provided is unpaid. Many of you don't think you're carers and may not live with the person you care for and so don't ask for support.
A carer spends a significant amount of their life providing "unpaid support to family or potentially friends, caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems" (National Carer's Strategy 2008)
Are you a carer?
If you provide at least 14 hours of support a week, or if you provide less than 14 hours per week, but you feel it is regular and substantial care you are entitled to have an assessment of your needs as a carer. The assessment will help us understand how we can best support you.
This may include:
- Providing information about local support groups.
- Information about training available to you.
- Advice on how to get a balance between work and caring.
- Assessment of your needs.
- Information on how your GP can help you.
- Practical help.
- Services to enable you to have a break from your caring role.
For more information including how to get help in an Emergency please see the Carers Newsletter link or telephone Call Derbyshire on 08 456 058 058.
Carers events and activities
In this section you will find information to help you take time out from your caring responsibilities. This includes organisations who can provide assistance to give you time out and a list of carers events and activities currently available for you to join.
Every June there is a national Carers Week and details will be included in this section for 2012 as soon as they are available.
Carers newsletter
We produce a Carers Newsletter to help you keep in touch. A copy of the current newsletter is available to view or download at the end of this page.
Emergencies
We provide information on how to get help in an emergency, including emergency respite care, having an carer's contingency plan or applying for an emergency carers card.
Carers organisations
Our carers organisations information gives links to a variety of information about organisation to help and support you.
Carers Voice
If you want to influence the provision of carer services in future, there is a forum operated by the Derbyshire Carers Association. You can volunteer to join the forum and access dates in our Carers Voice information.
Useful information
There are a number of national carers' organisations who are able to offer information and advice on a range of issues and more information can be found on our Carers' Organisations page.
Carers UK also have a free Carers' Rights Guide (opens in a new window) available on their website.
Are you worried about someone?
If after reading the information on this website you feel you need to make a referral for yourself or someone else, please Call Derbyshire on 08456 058 058. We are working to protect people who may be vulnerable because of their age, an illness, mental incapacity or a disability.
If you are worried about the safety of an adult please Call Derbyshire on 08456 058 058 or visit the Safer Derbyshire (opens in a new window) website.
Complaint, comment or compliment
If you have a complaint, comment or compliment about Adult Care services then please see our complaints process.
Related documents
The following documents are in Portable Document Format (PDF). You can download the PDF software for free from the Adobe website (opens in a new window)
- Caring for Carers Newsletter 2011 - Issue Three (1474KB)
- Joint Carers Commissioning Strategy - 4 May 2010 (4047KB)
